The
need for food is a basic necessity that remains unmet in
our community.
The
basic need for food remains unmet for many people in our community.
Respondents are very concerned about the rate of hunger for children in
particular, but also for individuals and families struggling with
poverty and for people experiencing homelessness. Many want to see
hunger lessened, but just as many insist that hunger be eliminated.
People talk of their belief that no one should have to choose between
putting food on the table, paying bills or buying medication. While
this section was relatively small compared to other sections of this
report, people who responded overwhelmingly support solutions that
address the root causes of hunger, such as reducing unemployment and
poverty and ending homelessness.
- The basic need
for food remains unmet for many.
- Eliminating
hunger requires addressing other social issues.
- The City should be responsible
for policy that directly addresses equal access to healthy
food.
- Portlanders need to support
services that directly work to prevent hunger.
- Portland needs to create a
culture where communities can easily grow their own food.
- How might an expansion of locally
grown, organic food impact hungry children and families?
- The
basic need for food remains unmet
for many.
- There are many options for free food and other
programs that work to prevent hunger, but existing services do not have the capacity to
solve the problem of hunger.
- Portland needs to work toward food security for
all.
| “Eliminate
hunger and home insecurity.” |
| “[In
2030, the] food bank [will be] almost out of business
due to lack of demand, affordable housing for
those who need it, serious jobs for well educated
people.” |
- Eliminating
hunger requires addressing other social issues.
- Numerous respondents tie hunger to poverty and
homelessness, and see a need to intensify efforts
to solve all such interconnected issues.
- The income gap is unacceptable because it prevents
many community members from establishing fundamental
economic stability, which also becomes a major barrier
to civic engagement.
| “Concentrate
not on increasing income in a system that concentrates
wealth for the few at the expense of the many,
but on increasing wealth (food, clothing, shelter,
economic security, community, an effective political
voice, health and well being) for all." |
- The
City should be responsible for policy that directly
addresses equal access to healthy food.
- Policies and plans should reflect health as a
priority so that not only is access to food a priority,
but access to quality food is the standard.
- The City needs an active, comprehensive plan
to address food access and the infrastructure
needed to provide it, such as good local stores, farmers markets, school
food and community gardens.
- There needs to be more promotions of local food
production as it relates to the benefits of the
local economy and Portland residents.
- For more on people’s thoughts regarding local
food production and promotion, see Urban Livability: Urban Agriculture/Community Gardens.
| “...[In
2030] there is enough food for all families to
eat, shelter for warmth, healthcare for all, and
plenty of clean clothes to wear.” |
| “Get
more local food into the schools and teach kids
where/how food products are grown. Food policy
council to become an advocate for agricultural
issues. The council needs to do a better job of
sharing with the public its work and how the public
can get involved. Organize resources to create
synergy and expand vs. each doing their own thing.
Resources are limited. Visualize a series of workshops
or why a local food economy.” |
- “We will be growing much more food on
unused properties within the city.”
- “Change city comprehensive plan to reflect health
as an important priority. The plan should reflect
how people access healthy, affordable food, and
how people can get around without a car.”
- Portlanders
need to support services that directly work to prevent
hunger.
- It is everyone’s responsibility to ensure no
one in Portland is hungry.
- People realize that the Oregon Food Bank is a
valuable resource, and that the community needs
to support the Food Bank even more in difficult
economic times.
| “Everyone
needs to buy food for the Oregon Food Bank!!!” |
| "I'd
make it easier for the homeless to find shelter
and food, the Oregon Food Bank would become a
focus of finding beds/food.” |
| "There
are organizations that do wonderful jobs with
helping and guiding people, such as the Oregon
Food Bank. Rather than just send people on a cycle
of different agencies they lead people in directions
of improving their own situations and also enable
people to help others." |
- Portland
needs to create a culture where communities can
easily grow their own food.
- Many
Portlanders believe one way to eventually diminish hunger is through
making community gardens and community supported agriculture widespread
and common practices.
- For more ideas and strategies related to this
topic, see Urban Livability: Urban Agriculture/Community Gardens.
| "[In
2030] We have the healthiest population in the
country. Poverty is unheard of, hunger is a thing
of the past, and the community sees itself as
responsible for the whole.” |
- “Create more community supported agriculture
and teach people how to grow their own food.”
- “Our green roofs grow food for the poor and attract
birds from all over.”
|
- How might an expansion of locally grown, organic food impact hungry children and families?
A
large number of people want to see an increase in local food production
that makes fresh and organic items readily available in stores and
restaurants. While some view this as a strategy to make Portland
healthier and reduce our carbon footprint, some fear that an expansion
of stores selling high-end organic produce (such as Whole Foods or New
Seasons) will increase food prices and leave more individuals and
families hungry.They speak about Oregon Food Bank's struggle to stay afloat
with enough funds and donations to meet the demand
from the growing number of individuals and families experiencing
hunger in Portland. These respondents
see a general need for more low-cost food. Others believe that a
proliferation of organic, locally produced food, co-ops, farmers
markets and community gardens could be both a solution to hunger
and to health issues that low-income people often suffer. They express
a desire to make local food and organics accessible to residents of all
income levels.
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