Title
Resolution to Allocate Funds for Expanding Food Access and Supporting Local Food Distribution
Body
Whereas, Adequate access to affordable, nutritious food is essential to the health, well-being, and economic security of all Ann Arbor residents;
Whereas, According to the Washtenaw County Health Department, the food insecurity rate among county residents rose to 12.5% in 2022, (1*) and continues to increase;
Whereas, Food Gatherers is the underlying food provider to all food pantries in the county, and work with their providers to provide assistance to all in the county;
Whereas, Between July 2021 and July 2023, the number of households relying on Food Gatherers' partner pantries grew by 93%, from 2,778 to 5,374; (2*)
Whereas, Many neighborhoods in central and eastern Ann Arbor are considered food deserts, where residents face limited access to fresh groceries due to the concentration of full-service supermarkets on the city's outskirts and significant transportation barriers;
Whereas, Historic zoning policies separating residential and commercial land uses have restricted the establishment of affordable grocery stores in underserved neighborhoods;
Whereas, Spatial inequities in food access disproportionately impact Black, Latino/a, and other marginalized communities, contributing to higher rates of food insecurity among these populations; (3*)
Whereas, In 2021, 26% of Black residents and 16% of Hispanic residents in Michigan experienced food insecurity, reflecting stark racial disparities in food access; (4*)
Whereas, Local food pantries across Washtenaw County are facing unprecedented demand for food assistance, and according to the Shelter Association of Washtenaw County's Winter 2025 interim report, shelter utilization has increased by 16% since the previous year, and 10% the year before that;
Whereas, Recent federal funding cuts have had a significant negative impact on the social service sector, causing delays and disruptions in food d...
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