A map of Pittsburgh's food deserts illustrates a nationwide problem with food insecurity.
Access to food and the role it can play in a person's life is an absolute vehicle for transformation and integration,” says Christina French, publisher of Table magazine.
In a country of agricultural bounty, it can be difficult to understand how so many people can lack for food. But 15 million American children are food-insecure. In Pittsburgh, 47 percent of the city reportedly lives in one of many food deserts. The problem becomes even more dire when we break down what constitutes "food." In many neighborhoods, the only source of "food" within walking distance is the corner store, markets that typically sell packaged junk food, sodas, and beer.
Reporting for the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Melissa McCart offers an explanation for how food desserts have come to be. High labor costs, economic downturn, and competition from big-box superstores such as Walmart have caused many grocery stores to close and consolidate. Residents of affected neighborhoods report travelling more than an hour by bus to reach a proper grocery store. Some of these neighborhoods, such as Oakland, home to the University of Pittsburgh, have streets filled with restaurants and bars, but such options are neither healthy nor affordable.
"Pittsburgh groups have been ramping up their efforts to address food insecurity, with varying degrees of success," reports McCart. Food pantries are expanding as well as focusing more on nutritional education. The Just Harvest program provides credits for EBT users to buy produce at farmers markets. Grow Pittsburgh is initiating community garden projects. Youth Places teaches food literacy to young restaurant workers.
"When people are hungry, the city suffers," McCart points out. "Charities have more to do."
FULL STORY: Food Deserts
The Mall Is Dead — Long Live the Mall
The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.
The Paradox of American Housing
How the tension between housing as an asset and as an essential good keeps the supply inadequate and costs high.
Report: Las Vegas, Houston Top List of Least Affordable Cities
The report assesses the availability of affordable rental units for low-income households.
Understanding Affordable Housing Lingo
20 key terms in the affordable housing discussion.
Undoing Biden's EV Rule
The partisan divide over how government should reduce greenhouse gas emissions was on full display after the Biden administration finalized its emissions standards rule for light and medium duty vehicles on March 20.
Boston Moves Zoning Reform Forward
The ‘Squares + Streets’ plan creates form-based zoning templates for neighborhoods that promote mixed use and denser housing near transit.
City of Yakima
City of Auburn
Baylands Development Inc.
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Mpact Transit + Community
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
City of Birmingham, Alabama
City of Laramie, Wyoming
Town of Zionsville
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.