eatuphealthy food, equity and community food systems …€¦ · · 2011-11-02buildings in...

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LegendEcodistrict boundaries

Buildings in Ecodistrict

multifamly in ecodistrict

Parks in Ecodistrict

Median income by Ecodistrict block$10,962.00

$10,962.01 - $20,085.00

$20,085.01 - $26,822.00

$26,822.01 - $40,257.00

$40,257.01 - $95,181.00

SNAP RETAIL POSITIONS IN UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT WITH MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL BY CENSUS BLOCK GROUP

For college students enrolled at least half time might be eligible for SNAP if one of the following applies:

•A paid employee working an average of 20 hours, except for an internship or graduate assistantship.

•Self-employed for at least 20 hours a week and earning the equivalent of the federal minimum wage times 20 hours.

•Participating in a work-study program or has a work-study job.

•The student cares for a child less than six years.

•The student cares for a child less than 12 years and a lack of child care would prohibit the student from attending class and having a job.

•The student is enrolled full-time and is a single parent.

•The student qualifies for TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)

•The student is physically or mentally unfit for employment.

•The student is in job training classes.

•The student is in a program serving displaced workers.

•The student is receiving Oregon Employment Department Training Unemployment Insurance (TUI) benefits.

•The student is enrolled due to participation in the higher education component of the JOBS program.

•The student is enrolled as a result of employee-sponsored on-the-job training.

However, students who reside on campus with available meal plans are not eligible for SNAP benefits.

SNAP Eligibility

SNAP is a needs-based federal assistance program, with eligibility determined by income level and expenses. SNAP eligibility for seniors and students within the University EcoDistrict was chosen for this project as members of both populations are vulnerable to food insecurity and are either on SNAP or could benefit from increased access to SNAP and other assistance to ensure healthy and nutritious diets.

Seniors are often on fixed income, relying on social security, retirement, or pensions and are often eligible for SNAP. However, participation rate in the program is low. The Community Food Security Coalition explained in their recent report Real Food, Real Choices: “In 2006, approximately 2 million seniors (age 60 or over) received food stamp benefits, representing 9% of total participation. The participation rate for seniors on SNAP in 2005 was 30%. Only one-third of eligible seniors participated in SNAP.”1 This low participation rates indicates the need to increase outreach and information activities that specifically target seniors.

At PSU, 60% of students receive Financial Aid.2 While many students qualify as low income, the State of Oregon has administrative rules that prohibit SNAP eligibility for some higher education students.3 No statistics are immediately available, yet EatUp’s community partners validated concerns that many eligible students are not on SNAP.

1 Briggs, S., Fisher, A., Lott, M., Miller, S. and N. Tessman. “Real Food, Real Choice: Connecting SNAP Recipients With Farmers Markets.” Community Food Security Coalition and Farmers Market Coalition. June 2010.

2 Karnes, Valerie, PSU Office of Financial Aid, telephone conversation, May 9, 2011.

3 OAR 461-135-0570

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Downtown

UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT BOUNDARIES


Buildings

Multifamily

Parks

Ecodistrict 1/4 mile buffer

UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT BOUNDARIES WITH 1/4 MILE BUFFER

UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT BOUNDARIES WITH 1/4 MILE BUFFER

Outreach Efforts

Through collaboration with our partners and stakeholders, we were able to conduct a SWOT analysis of outreach efforts geared towards our two populations. We discovered no targeted efforts within the district but found various efforts outside the district extended to both seniors and (to a lesser extent) students. The EatUp team wants to support and expand existing efforts.

Seniors

Two-thirds of Oregon seniors eligible for SNAP fail to take advantage of this federal program. Multnomah County Aging & Disability Services helps provide outreach materials and register eligible seniors. Several organizations target seniors but recognize a persistent need. A neighborhood district-level outreach strategy presents opportunities for a new approach.

Students

Partnership for Hunger Free Oregon recognizes the need to target students and is collaborating with us to design an outreach campaign which addresses this need.

The EatUp project proposes to distribute content or templates for hand-outs to partner organizations. The outreach materials would contain information to promote SNAP eligibility and inform seniors and students of available SNAP options within and near the University District. The templates and project designs serve as a model for partner organizations to customize with other districts.

SNAP Retail options within quarter-mile buffer zone of EcoDistrict

To determine an acceptable distance an elderly resident of the University EcoDistrict could walk to purchase groceries, a quarter-mile buffer zone was created around the EcoDistrict borders. Within this buffer zone, nine more SNAP retail locations were found, all corner stores except Safeway.:

•Go Food Stores, 1720 SW Jefferson St.

•Jr’s Convenience Store, 1140 SW Jefferson St.

•Plaid Pantry Market #13, 1305 SW 11th Ave.

•Safeway, 1030 SW Jefferson St.

•Park Avenue Market, 1503 Park Ave.

•7-11, 1533 SW Broadway

•Natural Mart, 1726 SW 4th Ave.

•Duniway Deli, 2417 SW 5th Ave.

•7-11, 30 SW Arthur St.

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SNAP RETAIL POSITIONS IN UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT AND QUARTER-MILE BUFFER ZONE

Yellow Star = in EcodistrictRed Star = out of Ecodistrict

SNAP RETAIL LOCATIONS IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT & SURROUNDINGS

in Ecodistrict

out of Ecodistrict

in Ecodistrict

out of Ecodistrict

What is equity?“Equity is both the means to healthy communities and an end that benefits us all. Equity requires the intentional examination of systemic policies and practices that, even if they have the appearance of fairness, may, in effect, serve to marginalize some and perpetuate disparities.” –Northwest Health Foundation

Q

Food Options within the University EcoDistrict

There is no shortage of food options within the University EcoDistrict. Ranging from Portland’s popular foodcarts along 4th Avenue to a wide variety of fast-food options to PSU’s food court located in the Smith Memorial Student Union, most options available in the University EcoDistrict are not expensive. As the University EcoDistrict is located south of Downtown Portland’s cultural district and fine-dining restaurants, a sampling of the Zagat’s guide and online websites reveals no high-priced dining options.

What options in the University EcoDistrict are available to low-income students or seniors on SNAP?

Formerly known as the food stamp program, SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program) provides federal funds to the states who then distribute funds to their clients via an EBT (electronic benefits transfer) card. Oregon residents on SNAP can use their Oregon Trail card at licensed retail stores and facilities. However, in the University District- despite the numerous cheap food options- there are a few options available for those who use SNAP benefits. SNAP can only be used to purchase food that is brought off-site for preparation and consumption, thus SNAP cannot be used at the popular food carts, restaurants, or the food court at Smith Center. The USDA’s online SNAP retail locater was used to locate the following four licensed SNAP retailers within the University district:

• PlaidPantryMarket#75,950SWMillSt.

• PlaidPantryMarket#7,2075SW1stAve.

• GreenLineMarket,1807SW5thAvenue*

• PortlandFarmersMarket,SouthParkBlocks**

*LicensedbutwithoutEBTequipment,socurrentlyunabletoserviceSNAPpurchases.

**ThePSUPortlandFarmersMarketoperatesSaturdays,March-December.Somemarketsmatchupto $5 in EBT purchases once a week. The closest PFM location to offer a $5 EBT matching program is Buckman Market at SE 20th & Salmon, ~2 miles from the EcoDistrict.

Educate, Access, Thrive: Underserved Populations, Healthy Food, Equity And Community Food Systems ProjectEatUpEatUp Presented by Renée Bogin Curtis & Kyle Curtis

Community Environmental Services

Purpose

The purpose of EatUp is to increase access and awareness of healthy, nutritious foods for low-income students and low-income senior residents in the University EcoDistrict. The project attempts to address the question: Are there significant barriers to healthy food access for low-income members of PSU’s student and surrounding community; what are some ways to mitigate these barriers?

Summary

EatUp has 4 primary project phases:

•Information Gathering

•Outreach

•Research Design

•Recommendations

Methods

Information gathering has been our primary source of data collection. During this phase, community partners and stakeholders were asked for data on SNAP usage, eligibility, outreach strategies and outreach needs catered toward low income students and seniors, particularly in the EcoDistrict. We also sought referrals for healthy retail assessment criteria, conducted retail assessments and designed a survey instrument to be used by us or our partners in the future. Additionally, we created maps to profile SNAP food options in the University District. Currently we are using the data compiled from conversations with partners and stakeholders to craft outreach strategies at a neighborhood district level. At project conclusion, we will provide a full project report to our community partners.

Profile of the University EcoDistrict The University EcoDistrict is Portland’s smallest EcoDistrict, nearly 99 acres found in the southern half of Portland’s Downtown neighborhood. This Ecodistrict is bordered by Market Street to the north, First Avenue to the east, and I-405 comprising its southwest border. Besides the campus of Portland State University, this EcoDistrict also contains the 235-room University Place Hotel; Portland’s famous Halprin fountains; and a portion of the 12-block South Park Blocks, which is the seasonal home to the Portland Farmers Market.

Bisected by the Portland Streetcar, the University EcoDistrict is also the endpoint for the Max Green Line, with plans to extend the Green Line south to the Clackamas Town Center. The University District is less densely populated than other portions of downtown, due to the presence of Portland State University, and other businesses, although there are over 20 multifamily housing complexes within the district. The University District also has a lower median income then surrounding areas of downtown as well.

How are the boundaries of the University EcoDistrict defined?

Why did we select a quarter mile buffer zone?

For the purpose of this project, the boundaries of the University EcoDistrict are those provided by the Portland Sustainability Institute (POSI). A quarter-mile buffer zone around the EcoDistrict was also mapped, with this distance based on functional limitations for frail adults, as identified by the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP). Difficulty of walking a quarter-mile without resting is classified as a functional limitation in the SIPP.

Available Non-Retail Food OptionsASPSU’s Student Food PantryAlthough not a retail location that accepts SNAP, the on-campus food pantry managed by ASPSU in the Smith Center, provides free food to any student who asks, without screening them for SNAP or income eligibility. All food pantry users need to log in with their student ID number to provide proof of their student status. Most items available for students to take off the shelves are canned foods. A rough estimate of 2-6 people in winter and 12-15 in spring, visit the pantry.1

St. Michael’s Sack Lunches and Emergency Food PantryLocated at SW 4th Avenue and Mill Street, the Church of St. Michael the Archangel offers free sack lunches every morning Monday through Friday, and emergency food boxes on the afternoons of Monday, Wednesday and Friday. While anyone can come in the morning to pick up a sack lunch, as St. Michael’s is a member of the Oregon Food Bank’s network, the USDA’s income eligibility levels are used to determine whether an individual can collect an emergency food box. As students face eligibility restrictions, they were not typically recipients of St. Michael’s services. However, the Oregon Food Bank recently revised their philosophy and determined nobody should go without food. St. Michael’s averages 225-300 emergency food boxespermonth,anddistributesanaverageof80sacklunchesperday,withasummerpeakof160.Generallytheyarelimited on resources and can service households with a max of 4 people. They also serve hot meals to regular clientele, many of whom are men and homeless, making it not necessarily comfortable for women.

Elm Court Center(located not in the EcoDistrict, but in the buffer zone) Elm Court Center is located in the heart of downtown Portland on the corner of SW 11th Avenue and Main Street. Elm Court is the only one of Loaves & Fishes’ 34 centers that is open daily for meals. Beginning in June 2010 the Elm Court Center began accepting SNAP EBT donations for meals, in partnership with the Multnomah County Aging and Disability Services department. The Elm Court Center is the first congregant meal site to pilot this program.

1Laken Harrel, University Affairs Director, Associated Students of Portland State University

Assessing the SNAP retail locations in the University DistrictWe identified SNAP retail locations both in the EcoDistrict and just outside within a quarter-mile buffer zone to assess all available food options for SNAP participants. What food products are on the shelves of these SNAP retail locations? Are healthy food products readily available? How do we assess the healthiness of products at these locations?

Our community partners offered suggestions of various tools to measure and evaluate the overall healthiness of corner stores. Amy Gilroy from the Oregon Public Health Institute provided a copy of the Nutrition Environment Measures in Stores Survey (NEMS-S), a highly detailed 16-page survey developed out of Emory University that rated and scored the following products which are expected to be found in any store: milk, fruit, vegetables, ground beef, hot dog, frozen dinners, baked goods, beverage, bread, and baked chips (see Appendix). For the purposes of this project, however, the assessment tool used is the Corner Store Checklist adopted by the Multnomah County’s Healthy Retail Initiative to measure and evaluate the healthiness of corner stores throughout the County. The corner store checklist consists of five pages and collects information on fruits and vegetables, beverages, snack food items, other healthy items, and culturally appropriate items for the local populations. Comments are also collected about the store’s cleanliness and infrastructure.

Presentation prepared on behalf of the EatUp research team:

Project Lead: Renée Bogin Curtis, MUS, Faculty Research Assistant for the Center for Urban Studies at PSU

Food Policy Specialist: Kyle Curtis, MPA, Research Assistant for Community Environmental Services at PSU

Project Advisor, Research and Policy Advisor: Dr. Jennifer H. Allen, Associate Professor in Public Administration

and a Fellow of the Institute for Sustainable Solutions at PSU

Project Advisor and Administrator: Dr. Shanna N. Eller, Director of Community Environmental Services at PSU

Urban Gerontologist: Alan Delatorre, Faculty Research Assistant in the Institute on Aging at PSU

Corner Store Checklist [Modified & Reduced for EatUp Presentation]

Name of store: __________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________________

Approximate square feet: ________________ Years in operation_______________

Current owner: _________________________________ Tel. ____________________

Date of Observation: ____________ EBT (food stamps) and WIC: _________________

Section A: FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

Please note type, location, price, & condition below:

Type Location Price/Amount Condition/quality Fresh Frozen Can Dried

Example: plum Front $ 1/ plum poor (overripe) X X

SECTION B: BEVERAGES

Type Location Price/Amount Other Comments

Example: whole milk Refrigerated case, rear

$3.47/gallon One brand

SECTION C: SNACK FOOD ITEMS

Type Location Price/Amount Other Comments

Example: Pretzels Snack isle, front $1 for 12 oz. bag

A few bags

SECTION D: OTHER HEALTHY ITEMS

Type Location Price/Amount Other Comments?

About how many shelves are devoted to... Snacks ______________________________ Sodas_________________________________

Fruits/Vegetables______________________ Candy_________________________________

STORE INFRASTRUCTURE:

Does the store have refrigerated storage for dairy or meats? (YES or NO) Fresh produce? (YES or NO) If there is refrigerated storage, is it in good working order? (YES or NO) Does the store have air conditioning? (YES or NO) Is it in working order? (YES or NO) Does the store have EBT machines for SNAP? (YES or NO) In working order? (YES or NO) Is the store WIC certified? (YES or NO) Does the store have a “micro-‐business” within the store, such as a bakery, butchery, or other? If so, which ones? ________________________________________________________________ Is it run by the store owner or somebody else? _________________________________ Does the store have a large amount of inventory, or do the shelves appear somewhat bare? _____________________________________________________________ Are all products priced? YES or NO Individually____ shelf-‐talkers on shelves____ Is there space on the walls for posters or advertising? YES or NO What is it advertised? ________________________________________________________________________ Please rate the store on Cleanliness: (Circle Good, Average, Poor) How much (%) of the outside of the store is covered with advertisements? ___________

Are there advertisements or specials for items inside the store? If so, what items are featured (such as marked as on sale, featured on a special stand, advertised on a poster, etc.)____________________________________________________________________ Community volunteer/researchers, please comment: Are there items you would like to buy in the neighborhood that are not in this store? Please describe. ________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Corner Store Checklist

ASPSU Food Pantry with ASPSU University Affairs Director Laken Harrel

Multnomah County’s Healthy Retail InitiativeBased out of the Multnomah County Health Department, the purpose of the Multnomah County Healthy Retail Initiative is to support, encourage, and promote voluntary actions by retail stores to increase access to healthy, affordable, culturally relevant food. Formed as an off shoot of the Portland Multnomah Food Policy Council’s Healthy Retail work group, the Healthy Retail Initiative seeks to align the County’s efforts with an insurgence of national interest towards healthy corner stores. According to Patrick Gorman, the Food Policy Specialist for the County’s Community Wellness and Prevention Program, 1000 healthy neighborhood stores around the country have been recently added to a network that just a few years ago only had ten stores.

Although the “healthy corner store” movement is too recent to provide data to measure effective ways to distribute healthy food in underserved areas, there is plenty of information about connections between cheap, unhealthy food in corner stores and our nation’s obesity epidemic. For example, a study of urban corner stores in Philadelphia revealed that every $1 spent equaled an average of 350 calories.1 Assessments conducted by the EatUp project team will help inform Multnomah County about corner stores in and near the EcoDistrict.

1 Borradaile, K.E., Sherman, S., Vander Veur, S. S., McCoy, T., Sandoval, B., Nachmani, J., Karpyn, A., and G. D. Foster. “Snacking in Children: The Role of Urban Corner Stores.” Pediatrics, Nov. 2009; 124: 1293 – 1298.

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Multifamily

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Median income by block group

$3,315.00

$3,315.01 - $20,085.00

$20,085.01 - $40,257.00

$40,257.01 - $66,140.00

$66,140.01 - $95,181.00

SNAP RETAIL POSITIONS IN UNIVERSITY ECODISTRICT AND QUARTER-MILE BUFFER ZONE

WITH MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL BY CENSUS BLOCK GROUPYellow Star = in Ecodistrict

Red Star = out of Ecodistrict

SNAP RETAIL LOCATIONS IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT AND SURROUNDINGS WITH MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL BY CENSUS BLOCK GROUP

SNAP RETAIL LOCATIONS IN UNIVERSITY DISTRICT WITH MEDIAN INCOME LEVEL BY CENSUS BLOCK GROUP

0

20000

40000

60000

80000

100000

120000

1989 1993 1995 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007

SNAP Participants in Multnomah County 1989-2007

SNAP par3cipants in Multnomah County

The EatUp team would like to thank our community partners and stakeholders:

•Associated Students of Portland State University (ASPSU)

•City of Portland Commissioner Nick Fish’s Office

•City of Portland Community Gardens

•Multnomah County Healthy Aging Coalition

•Multnomah County Public Health Department, Community Putting Prevention to Work Initiative

•Oregon Public Health Institute (OPHI)

•Partnership for a Hunger Free Oregon

•Portland Farmers Market

•Portland State University Institute of Aging

•State of Oregon Department of Human Services

•Upstream Public Health

in Ecodistrict

out of Ecodistrict

Source: USDA Economic Research Service

SNAP usage has dramatically increased in recent years, subsequently there is a greater need for healthy retail options for SNAP users.

eatuphealthy food, equity and community food systems …€¦ · · 2011-11-02buildings in...

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