Food Insecurity

This LGBTQ Health Corner features a column from a special guest writer, AmeriCorps Service Member and Project Assistant Olivia Catalone from the Seven Valleys Health Coalition.

Have you ever struggled to get enough food?

Not having access to enough food to sustain yourself is known as food insecurity. This is a common, growing problem in the United States. Seven Valleys Health Coalition is working to understand what that looks like here in Cortland County and help make changes to decrease the issue of food insecurity. For generations, LGBTQ+ individuals have been suppressed for generations simply because of whom they love or how they express themselves.

In a 2019 study, the Oregon Food Bank found that 27% of LGBTQ+ individuals reported a lack of sufficient funds for food at some point in the last year. This is higher than cisgender Americans, who report a lack of funds for food about 17% of the time. Food insecurity can be caused by a lack of affordable housing, unemployment, lack of access to healthcare, climate conditions, inadequate distribution of food, or even low income. Members of the LGBTQ community face employment discrimination. As recently as 2018, 22% of LGBTQ+ workers were not paid or promoted at the same rate as their colleagues, which impacts their ability to pay bills, get housing and feed themselves or their families. There are programs to help those facing food insecurity like SNAP, food pantries, and food distribution sites (like our little blue pantries). 

I want to ensure every voice has a place at the table to be heard. According to our recent public health data, 14.7% of Cortland residents have an income below the federal poverty level. This is just one factor that may impact someone’s ability to get enough food in my role as a public health AmeriCorps I am working with people privately to hold conversations about how hard it can be to access food and why.