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How Does Food Insecurity Impact Homeless NYC Students?

 

fighting food insecurity among homeless nyc students
Photo credit: Seventyfour - stock.adobe.com

It will surprise absolutely no one reading this to learn that not only does New York City have a high cost of living, it frequently ranks in the top three on lists of most expensive cities in the world. Though often ranked as the richest city in the world, New York has a poverty rate of 23 percent, nearly twice the national average. One frequent byproduct of poverty is food insecurity. Though not exclusive to this population, homeless NYC students are the most vulnerable to food insecurity. This blog post will explore the extent of the problem as well as ways you can help. 


What Constitutes Food Insecurity?


According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, food insecurity is when households are “uncertain of having or unable to acquire enough food to meet the needs of all their members because they [have] insufficient money or other resources for food.” In other words, those who lack reliable access to enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle are food insecure. 


How Prevalent is Food Insecurity Among Homeless NYC Students?


A U.S. Department of Agriculture report released on January 8, 2025 found that 13.5 percent of - or roughly 18 million - U.S. households experienced food insecurity at some point during 2023. [1] Depending on Neighborhood Tabulation Areas (NTAs), food insecurity ranged from as low as 3 percent in Laurelton and Cambria Heights to as high as 36 percent in East Williamsburg. According to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Food Policy’s Annual Food Metrics Report for 2022, approximately 1.2 million New Yorkers - or 14.6 percent of city residents - were food insecure. 


What Is The Impact of Food Insecurity On Homeless NYC Students?


Converging research, as compiled by the National Library of Medicine, [2] indicates that household food insecurity impedes children from reaching their full physical, cognitive and psychosocial potential. As a result of persistent food insecurity and hunger, afflicted children may experience a wide array of adverse side effects, including, but not limited to:

  • Reduced concentration
  • Weakened memory 
  • Decreased academic performance 
  • Increased rate of illness
  • Chronic conditions such as anemia and asthma
  • A greater likelihood of behavioral problems and mood issues
  • Underdeveloped motor skills 


How Do You Fight Food Insecurity? 


To start with, you can donate healthy and nonperishable food items to local food pantries, food banks and shelters. By contacting these organizations ahead of time, you can acquire the items they need most. If you have the time and resources, you can organize a food drive. Besides the above-mentioned organizations, you can also volunteer with a mutual aid group, which can help meet the needs of a community by coordinating support and establishing relationships among neighbors. Lastly, you can make your support extra-personal by sponsoring a family through a nonprofit program. You can find more information about local organizations by searching online. 


A great place to start is Mentor A Promise and its network of partner organizations. We provide holistic support to homeless children and youths as well as their families. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. 


Contact Mentor A Promise Today 


Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness. 

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