What is a Food Desert?
As defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), food deserts are “areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other foods that make up the full range of a healthy diet.”
How do food deserts affect the houseless in Portland, OR?
With Portland City Council's recent efforts to assertively clean-up and relocate houseless communities, pushing them outside of city centers, which restricts access to perishable, nutritious food, and can lead to unfamiliarity to what’s available in their local area. The flushing of the houseless camps along the Springwater Corridor moved the homeless away from where they were familiar with what they could find, and where. This, in turn, results in Nutrition being harder and harder to receive.
As defined by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), food deserts are “areas that lack access to affordable fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk, and other foods that make up the full range of a healthy diet.”
How do food deserts affect the houseless in Portland, OR?
With Portland City Council's recent efforts to assertively clean-up and relocate houseless communities, pushing them outside of city centers, which restricts access to perishable, nutritious food, and can lead to unfamiliarity to what’s available in their local area. The flushing of the houseless camps along the Springwater Corridor moved the homeless away from where they were familiar with what they could find, and where. This, in turn, results in Nutrition being harder and harder to receive.
A list of programs and organizations dedicated to ending food insecurity.
Resource Lists
The Homelessness Toolkit - Provides information and resources on homelessness in and around Portland, OR.
Rose City Resource - A directory of services for houseless and low-income individuals, such as where to find meals, health services, domestic abuse services, etc.
Hunger + Health - A collection of resources compiled by Feeding America that pertain to nutritional responses to food insecurity.
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NonprofitsSisters of the Road - Provides meals to anyone for $1.50 and offers a work-barter system for those who cannot pay.
Feed The Mass - Offers free meals Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in the Portland area with a focus on health and nutrition.
Do Good Multnomah - Do Good Multnomah provides supportive housing and low-barrier emergency shelter to houseless Veterans in Portland, Oregon.
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volunteer/donatePortland Free Fridge - Entirely run by volunteers in the community, this network of public fridges provide meals, food staples, and other items like hygiene supplies to anyone in need.
Operation Nightwatch - Evening service that offers supplies such as blankets and clothing, as well as meals and community activities to houseless folks.
Stone Soup - A non-profit foodservice training enterprise based in Portland, OR, providing workforce development & hands-on culinary expertise to people at risk of homelessness.
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