Redlined Neighborhoods Experience High Food Insecurity

An article by Linh Ta on Axios highlights the persistent negative impacts of redlining on American communities, citing a recent study from the Des Moines Area Religious Council that finds that households in that city’s historically redlined district are most likely to experience food insecurity.

“The redlined neighborhoods that lacked investment 90 years ago — many of which are on the city's south and east sides — are still suffering from economic instability and lower home ownership rates, according to DMARC.” Some of these areas are also at the highest risk for flooding, the report noted.

“Out of all the food pantry users in the Des Moines metro, about 43% of them live in a former C or D district, said Luke Elzinga, spokesperson for DMARC.” Homes classified as C or D properties were deemed “high risk” for lending. According to the report, “55% of multi-race Hispanic families that visited DMARC's food pantries lived in one of those districts compared to just 38% of white food pantry users.” Elzinga pointed to the need for support in multiple areas to reduce food insecurity among low-income households. “Factors like improving affordable housing options and childcare factor into economic stability.”