VOICES FROM THE COMMUNITY:
The visionPDX Input Report

SOCIAL ISSUES:
Hunger

  


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The need for food is a basic necessity that remains unmet in our community.

Section Summary

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.

Summary of Main Ideas

  1. The basic need for food remains unmet for many.
  2. Eliminating hunger requires addressing other social issues.
  3. The City should be responsible for policy that directly addresses equal access to healthy food.
  4. Portlanders need to support services that directly work to prevent hunger.
  5. Portland needs to create a culture where communities can easily grow their own food.

Summary of Tensions and Disagreements

  1. How might an expansion of locally grown, organic food impact hungry children and families?

MAIN IDEAS

  1. 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.”

  1. 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."

  1. 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.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. “We will be growing much more food on unused properties within the city.”
  2. “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.”
  1. 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."

  1. 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.”

Sample Strategies:

  1. “Create more community supported agriculture and teach people how to grow their own food.”
  2. “Our green roofs grow food for the poor and attract birds from all over.”

TENSIONS AND DISAGREEMENTS

  1. 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.