NH Hunger Solutions Statement on the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health
NH Hunger Solutions is thrilled to see the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health and the National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition and Health recognizes that hunger is caused by economic insecurity. In order to address food insecurity, we must also ensure household economic security. NH is seeing high numbers of households struggling to meet household expenses, including food, heating costs and child care. In August of 2022, more than 147,000 families with children as well as 1 in 4 adults over 60 said that they did not have sufficient food in NH. (Census Household Pulse Survey). While the economic recovery from the pandemic has been strong, the end of pandemic-related programs like expanded unemployment benefits and nutrition assistance have added to the challenges.
Our work is well aligned with this national strategy, and with the goal of turning the tide on some of these trends. With our partners we are:
- Working to close the gap between those eligible for and those enrolled in federal nutrition programs* through policy and administrative advocacy. In NH, no county exceeds 58% of SNAP eligible population that is enrolled
- Supporting schools and communities to increase participation in school meals so that students receive the nutrition they need during the school day and in the summer (National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs), Summer Meals (Summer Food Service Program). NH is 47th in school breakfast participation missing 7,800 students a day
- Increasing public and policymaker understanding of the causes of and solutions to hunger in New Hampshire.
- Supporting and building councils and coalitions to address hunger using collective impact approaches at the state, regional, and local levels.
We applaud the strategy's focus on racial equity, as hunger disproportionately affects communities of color. People of color in NH experience poverty at more than double the rate of their white neighbors. Persistent racial segregation has disconnected many communities of color from accessible and affordable food, health care and economic opportunities. With support from the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors and in partnership with the NH Department of Public Health, NHHS through NH FAC has convened more than 200 cross-sector participants to create a state plan to address nutrition equity.
Finally, we commend the strategy's prioritization of nutrition and food security in overall health and the prevention of short- and long-term health problems. This is why we work with our partners through the statewide NH Food Access Coalition and the work of local and regional food access coalitions throughout New Hampshire to work collectively to address food and nutrition security.
At NHHS, we think of our food and nutrition system like a power grid that moves healthy food to communities. In New Hampshire, the grid is well developed in some areas and patchy or non-existent in others. Our work is to plug more communities into the grid. We look forward to working with you, our partners, to support the National Strategy's focus on systemic approaches to addressing economic security.
Here are ways you can take action toward ending hunger in NH:
- Take the pledge to end hunger in NH at nhhungersolutions.org/take-action.
- Talk to your local school district and learn about their meal programs
- Ask state and local lawmakers and candidates what their plan is to end hunger in New Hampshire.
- Sign up for the NH FAC SPINE workgroup
