Report Finds Grocery Store Access Remains Inadequate for Many D.C. Residents Struggling Against Hunger
Media Contact:
Colleen Barton
703-203-7843
cbarton@frac.org
WASHINGTON, November 19, 2024 — Residents east of the Anacostia River continue to lack access to full-service grocery stores compared to other areas of the nation’s capital, according to a new report released today by D.C. Hunger Solutions. The Minding the Grocery Gap in D.C.: A 2024 Update report reveals that, while some grocery store openings and improvements have been made, the grocery gap persists.
The report analyzes data on full-service grocery stores and policy changes from October 2023 – September 2024.
“Food insecurity in the District of Columbia is deeply rooted in food apartheid, systemic poverty, and the persistent inequities in the distribution of wealth, resources, and access to essential needs, including nutritious food,” said LaMonika Jones, director of D.C. Hunger Solutions. “The uneven allocation of resources leaves many in our community struggling to afford or access healthy food options.”
Nearly 9 percent of households in the District struggle to afford enough food. Food insecurity was notably high among older adults, with one in three adults age 60 years and over identified as food insecure. Federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) are critical in helping families better afford food for the table, but the report says equitable grocery access remains vital to effectively utilize these benefits.
“Improving equitable access to grocery stores is essential to the health and prosperity of all D.C. residents,” said Jones. “The continued scarcity of grocery options in underserved neighborhoods, especially east of the Anacostia River, deepens health disparities and holds back community growth. We urge policymakers to prioritize sustainable solutions — like ensuring ongoing, nonlapsing funding of Give SNAP a Raise, revisiting the Supermarket Incentive Tax, and investing more in public transportation infrastructure — so that every resident has a chance at accessing nutritious, affordable food.”
Policy initiatives such as the Food Access by Public Transit Study Amendment Act, the Nourish DC Collaborative, and the Food Access Fund have been instrumental in the District’s efforts to improve grocery store access and support local food businesses. Despite these important strides, these initiatives have not fully offset the rise in poverty in several areas, underscoring the need for continued and expanded interventions. The report recommends strengthening these efforts to ensure food security and promote economic stability for all District residents, particularly those in underserved communities.
The 2024 report proposes more investments to help bridge the grocery gap in Washington, D.C., including:
Fully fund Give SNAP a Raise: The Give SNAP a Raise Amendment Act was signed into legislation in January 2023, increasing the maximum monthly benefit amount for SNAP clients by 10 percent. This investment will help individuals and families continue to grapple with the hunger cliff resulting from the end of COVID-19 pandemic-era SNAP Emergency Allotments. Give SNAP a Raise also supports small and large retailers, as SNAP has a proven record of generating business.
Pass the Food Access by Public Transit Study Amendment Act of 2023: D.C. Hunger Solutions strongly supports this initiative, as neighborhoods — particularly those east of the Anacostia River — continue to face significant barriers to transportation. The lack of access to reliable transportation is a crucial social determinant of health and a primary contributor to hunger.
Increase funding for the Nourish DC Collaborative: D.C. Hunger Solutions recommends that the D.C. Council continues to invest additional funding to support small, locally owned food-based businesses with an emphasis on Black-, Latinx-, and Indigenous-owned businesses. As the Nourish DC Collaborative specifically focuses on investing in locally owned food businesses and helps address the grocery gap in Wards 7 and 8, greater funding is critical to ensuring that neighborhoods experiencing food insecurity can receive the loans and grants they need to create lasting, increased food access.
Convene a multi-sector task force: Build a task force that includes government officials, food-related business owners, and Wards 7 and 8 residents, to examine grocery store development in Wards 7 and 8. This task force should submit a formal report to the Mayor and D.C. Council with ideas for identifying barriers and possible solutions, reviewing the current and proposed actions detailed in this report, and proposing other innovative solutions.
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About D.C. Hunger Solutions
D.C. Hunger Solutions, founded in 2002 as an initiative of the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC), works to create a hunger-free community and improve the nutrition, health, economic security, and well-being of low-income people in the District of Columbia. To learn more about D.C. Hunger Solutions, visit www.dchunger.org.