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JUN-26-96 WED 10:31 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 1
Fax
Transmission
Date: 6/26/96
To: Joel Beig
INTERFAITH
Fax Number:
HUNGER
COALITION
From:
Elizabeth Riley, Executive Director
Interfaith Hunger Coalition
S
My Phone:
(213) 637-1600 ext. 14
Our Fax:
(213) 365-0033
Our Address:
155 N. Occidental Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026-4721
No. of pages including cover page: 37
Message:
Possible
Here are a few items of interest to you
Please call if you experience any transmission problems.
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 2
JUN-26-96 WED 10:32 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
CITY OF Los ANGELES
N
COMMUNITY Final DEVELOPMENT
CALIFORNIA
DEPARTMENT
215 W. 6TM STREET
LOS ANGELES CA 90014
(213) 485-1617
FAX (213) 237-0551
POLICE
RICHARD J. RIORDAN
MAYOR
APR 15 1996
Council File No.: 86-2115 & 95-2240
Council District No.: All
Contact Persons & Extensions:
Robert Vilmur XS-5734
Gloria Stevenson Clark, X5-3424
Human Services & Neighborhood
Development Division
Honorable Richard J. Riordan
Los Angeles City Council
Mayor, City of Los Angeles
c/o City Clerk's Office
Room 305, City Hall
Room 395, City Hall
COMMITTEE TRANSMITTAL: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE VOLUNTEER ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HUNGER
PROPOSED HUNGER POLICY
Transmitted for your consideration and approval is a Hunger Policy adopted by the Volunteer
Council on Hunger (VACH).
BACKGROUND
In 1986 Councilmembers Richard Alatorre and Robert Farrell introduced a motion to City
Council in response to a community based initiative by Campaign For Life, to establish a
committee to oversee the development, coordination and promotion of a City policy on the
elimination of hunger.
On August 4, 1989, the City Council adopted the recommendation of the Chairman of the Grants,
Housing and Community Development Committee to accept the 1989 report on HUNGER. In
June 1991, the Council approved the creation of a nine (9) member Volunteer Advisory Council
on Hunger (VACH), composed of members to be appointed (3 each) by the Mayor, the President
of City Council and the General Manager of the Community Development Department (CDD).
JUN-26-96 WED 10:32 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 3
Mayor Richard Riordan
APR 15 1996
-2-
Los Angeles City Council
The following volunteers were appointed as follows:
Mayor's Office:
Irene Gomez
David Kessler
Blanca Cintron Scot
Council President:
Bishop Charles E. Blake, West Angeles Church of God and Christ
Elizabeth Riley, Interfaith Hunger Coalition
Stephen Saltzman, Campaign for Life
CDD:
Honorable Robert Farrell
Robert Gottlieb, UCLA School Public Policy/Social Research
Berta Saavedra, L A Alliance for a Drug Free Community
The VACH's responsibilities were to consist of the following: a) oversee the development,
coordination and promotion of a City Policy on Hunger; b) act as a clearinghouse for hunger
related information; c) evaluate existing resources and progress in solving hunger problems in the
City; d) develop recommendations toward the eradication of hunger; and e) conduct yearly
hearings on the state of hunger in the City.
The VACH's formation was completed in October 1994, subsequently eighteen (18) meetings and
six (6) public hearings were held. On December 6, 1995, the City Council adopted a VACH
recommendation that it shall be the policy of the City of Los Angeles to help combat and eliminate
hunger and establish food security (Council File No.95-2240).
PROGRAM CONCEPT TO COMBAT AND ELIMINATE HUNGER
The plan proposes to initiate a Los Angeles Food Security and Hunger Policy, incorporating the
establishment of the Los Angeles Food Security and Hunger Partnership (LAFSHP). THE
LAFSHP will be an advisory body to the City. It's mission is to promote food security and
combat hunger through empowerment and community and economic development strategies, and
to assure that all residents have access to a continuous source of safe, affordable, culturally
acceptable, and nutritious food. The partnership will consist of 18 members, with 6 each being
appointed by the Mayor, President of the City Council and the General Manager of the
Community Development Department (CDD).
PROGRAM STRUCTURE
Own
The plan proposes that an adjunct non-profit (501c(3)) organization will be established with the
above noted 18 stakeholders, serving as its Board of Directors. The purpose of the non-profit
organization will be to provide funding to the Partnership for staffing and the carrying out of its
mission.
This partines hp will
JUN-26-96 WED 10:33 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 4
Mayor Richard Riordan
-3-
APR 15 1996
Los Angeles City Council
The LAFSHP proposes on behalf of the City in part to:
Prepare an annual report on hunger;
Develop a set of food security and hunger indicators, based in part on existing models;
Review and evaluate existing City policies on food and hunger and recommend new
policies, as warranted;
Collect and monitor data on a continuing basis on the nutritional, affordability,
accessibility, and quality of food;
Collaborate with community groups on local food-related issues and initiatives;
Develop pilot projects based on empowerment and community economic development
principles in targeted areas.
The Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger (VACH) will be available to the appointing parties as
an advisor in the appointment process.
Additional Information
The CDD is in support of the basic concepts and ideas presented in the draft Hunger Policy
transmitted herewith.
The CDD recommends financial assistance to the LAFSHP, subject to Mayor/Council approval,
in decreasing amounts over a four (4) year period as follows:
First year
$100,000
Second year
80,000
Third year
60,000
Fourth year
40,000
These funds will function as "seed money" for the first formative years of LAFSHP operation.
We expect that within this period, the LASFSP will become self sustaining and will have
normalized all basic partnership systems. Please note that the specific instructions pertaining to
the use of these funds should be developed following Mayor/Council review and included in the
final actions taken by the Council.
The CDD additionally believes that the draft policy is now ready to begin the formal City review
process necessary for final approval. Attached for your consideration are three (3) support letters
from the VACH's original appointing authorities (Mayor, City Council President and CDD
General Manager) indicating that this draft policy should now start the City's final review process.
Please note that the CDD will provide technical assistance to the LAFSHP and continue to assist
the VACH in their commitment to complete a City of Los Angeles Hunger Policy.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:34 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 5
APR 15 1996
Mayor Richard Riordan
-4
Los Angeles City Council
RECOMMENDATIONS
The General Manager, Community Development Department, respectfully requests:
1.
Your office process the subject report through the appropriate City Council Committee(s)
for review and approval.
2.
Approve the four year payment schedule: $100,000 for the first year and, subject to the
availability of funds and good performance, $80,000 for the second year, $60,000 for the
third year and $40,000 for the fourth and final year. Funds for years 2- - 4 are subject to
availability and Council approval.
3.
The Mayor concur with the action of the City Council.
A copy of this transmittal is being forwarded to the City Attorney for concurrent review.
The appendices and Public Hearing tapes are on file at the Community Development Department.
Paila Ame
PARKER C. ANDERSON
General Manager
PCA:GSC:TC
cc: City Attorney (w/attachments)
Attachments
transvach
JUN-26-96 WED 10:34 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 6
Crity
CETT
FOUNDED
1701
CITY HALL
RICHARD J. RIORDAN
LOS ANGELES. CALIFORNIA 90012
OFFICE OF THE MAYOR
MAYOR
(213) 847.2489
January 25, 1996
Robert Farrell, Chair
Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger (VACH)
c/o Community Development Department
Planning Department
215 W. 6th Street, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Dear Mr. Farrell:
Thank you very much for your diligent efforts to establish a hunger policy and for the
opportunity to respond to your concept paper which addresses the establishment of a food
security effort within the City of Los Angeles. I applaud the tremendous time, energy and
thoughtfulness which have gone into the preparation of your draft policy. Such a thoughtful
document deserves and requires a well-reasoned response. Of particular importance to me is that
efforts to ensure food security must be:
Linked with appropriate City Departments and their respective missions
Financially Sustainable
Structured such that it is able to be implemented effectively, with measurable results.
The draft plan proposes the adoption of a Los Angles Food Security and Hunger Policy and the
of
the
Angeles
Food
Security
and
Hunger
Partnership
(LAFSHP
The issue of hunger is traditionally thought of in the context of the inability to afford quality and
nutritious food. However, the proposed policy, takes a fresh look at the various factors that
affect dietary choices and contribute to food insecurity. These many factors include, but are not
limited to, income, price, education, cultural preferences and access (transportation & availability
of grocery stores in neighborhoods).
The VACH has also identified many solutions to improving rood security,
transportation services and the establishment of Farmers Markets and Community Gardens. I am
especially interested in the linkage between accessibility to bus and shuttle services to food
security.
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Phone and - PDM TO ase
Richard J. Riordan
RJR: KD
cc: Parker Anderson, Community Development Department
Elizabeth Riley, Vice Chair, VACH
AN EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY - AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER
Recyclable and - from recycled -
JUN-26-96 WED 10:36 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P.
While I wholeheartedly support the establishment of a hunger policy, I believe that the
proposed policy deserves thorough and substantial review by the entire city family. As such, I
encourage you to work with the Community Development Department to submit your final
report on Food Security. I expect to transmit the final report to the City Council for their review
and approval.
I am confident that the VACH has successfully addressed many of the important issues that
directly affect the accessability of nutritious and affordable food. Again, I wish to thank you for
your very important work and dedication to achieving food security for our citizens and look
forward to working with you in establishing an effective city policy and structure.
Sincerely,
Richard J. Riordan
RJR: KD
CC: Parker Anderson, Community Development Department
Elizabeth Riley, Vice Chair, VACH
JUN-26-96 WED 10:36 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 2
CITY OF Los ANGELES
PARKER C. ANDERSON
GENERAL MANAGER
CALIFORNIA
COMMUNITY development
DEPARTMENT
215 W. 6TH STREET
LOE Angelex CA 90014
(213) 485-1617
FAX (213) 237-0551
RICHARD J. RIORDAN
MAYOR
APR 15 1996
Robert Farrell, Chair
Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger (VACH)
c/o Community Development Department
Planning Department
215 W. Sixth Street, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
VOLUNTEER ADVISORY COUNCIL ON HUNGER (VACH) - PROPOSED HUNGER
POLICY FOR THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES
The VACH was officially convened in October of 1994, and has from that time to the present met
eighteen times. Within this period six public hearings were held at widely separated locations
within the City to elicit and document hunger related information.
The mission of the VACH includes overseeing the development and promotion of a City policy on
hunger, acting as a clearinghouse for hunger related information, and evaluating existing resources
and progress towards solving hunger problems. The VACH is also to conduct yearly hearings on
the status of hunger in the City and develop recommendations towards its eradication.
At this time the VACH has completed for review and consideration a draft Hunger Policy for the
City which contains the following key elements:
The development of a mechanism for carrying out the Los Angeles Food Security and
Hunger Policy. This mechanism will be the Los Angeles Food Security and Hunger
Partnership (LAFSHP). (The partnership will be a joint venture among the public,
independent and private sectors. It will be an advisory body to the City with an adjunct
non-profit (501c(3)) organization and research arm. The advisory body will consist of 18
members, six each, appointed by the Mayor, City Council President and the Community
Development Department (CDD).
Y
The development of recommendations to the Council, Mayor and City departments on
white alocal soe
policies and programs related to hunger and food security.
The initiation of pilot projects based on empowerment and community economic
development principles.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:37 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 3
to be increased by 287% to meet existing needs in the Oakwood neighborhood.
Also, in Venice, Rhonda Meister from St. Joseph's Center noted that her food pantry
program, due to overwhelming community need, has expanded from serving 500
families in March 1993 to 783 families in April 1995. 28
Other testimony heard in the VACH hearings painted a more personal yet equally
valid portrait of hunger in the City. Harbor Interfaith Shelter conducted a survey of
low income persons in the San Pedro area. Their study found that 61% of persons
interviewed ran out of money for food every or every other month, for an average
of 8 days per month, even though the majority received food stamps. High rents
and a low minimum wage were identified as fundamental causes of hunger. 29
Survey Data
The Seeds of Change: Strategies for Food Security for the Inner City study conducted
by UCLA Urban Planning researchers in 1993 documented the existence of hunger
in one South Central neighborhood. A scientific telephone survey of 148 residents
in an area northeast of USC revealed that 27% of households run out of money to
buy food an average of five days per month. Considering that over 12% of residents
in this area do not own phones, presumably because of lack of resources, these
results directly indicate that hunger is a chronic problem for significant numbers of
low-income Angelenos.
B. Adequacy of Resources and Structures
The Seeds of Change study appropriately characterized hunger as a chronic
condition through which hundreds of thousands of Angelenos float in and out of,
in rhythm with monthly paycheck cycles and cash flows. The persistence of hunger
transcends a lack of personal responsibility. While the lack of an ethos of personal
responsibility and hard work plagues modern society, the existence and depth of the
hunger problem points in the direction of policy and structure. The federal
government has never developed a coherent hunger policy, instead creating a non-
coordinated patchwork of inadequately funded food assistance programs. Their goals
have at times been counter to best nutrition practices. The use of high-fat surplus
commodities in school lunch programs presents a clear example of the nature of
food assistance programs as a downstream byproduct of agricultural policy.
Just as the federal government has never developed an integrated and adequately
funded framework for addressing the hunger question, the private sector's efforts
have focused on emergency aid: the distribution of provisions as a humanitarian
stopgap measure. This hodgepodge of highly individualized efforts without
education, referral, or social service functions that might help lift families out of
27 Timothy Crayton, Oakwood Wesley House, VACH Hearing March 30, 1995
28 Rhonda Meister, St Joseph's Center, VACH Hearing March 30,1995
29 Nancy Berlin, Fair Share Campaign, VACH Hearing April 13, 1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:38 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 4
poverty is becoming institutionalized as an important source of food assistance. It is
a woefully inadequately funded "system" with severe structural challenges, whose
raison d'etre remains the lack of a coherent public policy to provide the populace
with food security.
Federal food assistance programs have succeeded in staving off massive epidemics
of hunger in the U.S., but continue to be underfunded to meet the full needs of low-
income Angelenos. Food stamp benefits are based upon the USDA's Thrifty Food
Plan, a computer-generated model for an emergency diet. The TFP has been widely
criticized as problematic, never having been proven nutritionally adequate on a
long-term basis. It assumes an average of 3.5 hours of cooking time per day, does not
take into account cultural factors in dietary choice, nor higher prices in inner cities.
USDA data indicates that only. 12% of those persons spending at or below the cost of
the TFP eat diets with 100% of the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of
nutrients. 30 Current food stamp benefits provide approximately 70 cents per meal, as
meal.³¹ compared to the $1.20 that nutritionists estimate is needed to prepare a nutritious
State and county run welfare programs such as General Relief and Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC) also provide an important source of income to
many Angelenos. These programs have been cut back drastically over the past five
years, resulting in increased levels of hunger. General Relief for single indigent
persons has dropped from $313 to $212 over the past three to four years. AFDC has
been reduced by 13% since 1989, with benefits dropping from $694 in 1990 to $607 for
1995-96 for a family of three. In L.A. County, welfare and food stamp benefits
combined would amount to only 73.4% of the poverty level for a family of three. 32
High housing costs in Los Angeles also reduce the availability of funds for food
purchases. The Fair Market Rent (determined by HUD) for a three person family in
L.A. County in 1994 was $804, as compared to AFDC benefits of $607. Given that
families routinely spend more than 70% of their income on rent, little money is left
over to supplement inadequate food stamps for food purchases.³
On top of the inadequacies of existing welfare and nutrition programs, existing
Congressional proposals for federal nutrition programs would substantially increase
hunger in Los Angeles and result in deeper recessions. As participation in federal
food assistance programs is sensitive to economic cycles, block grants or capped
entitlements are problematic due to their nature as fixed sums. A recession would
signify increased need without increased funding. This could potentially leave
thousands of Angelenos without jobs and on long waiting lists for food stamps.³
Provisions to allow up to 20% of funds to be used by the state for other programs
30 Ashman, PP. 18-19
31 Ashman, P. 19
32 CFPA
33 CFPA, P. 4
34 Melinda Bird, Western Center on Law and Poverty, VACH Hearing March 30,1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:38 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 5
would also diminish moneys available for food assistance. By the year 2005, 30% of
benefits would be cut, resulting in an average allotment per meal of only 54 cents as
compared to the 71 cents currently in place.³⁵ The removal of federal nutritional
standards in the child nutrition programs could also contribute to higher rates of
obesity among children. For the WIC program, the block grants would result in
lower cutoff ages for child participants and possible changes in the composition of
eligible foods toward less nutritious altérnatives.
Not only would block grants result in a substantial rise in hunger among the poor
in Los Angeles, they would negatively affect regional farmers, retailers as well as the
economy at large. Cutbacks in school nutrition programs across the country would
prove detrimental to California's enormous agricultural and dairy industry. In Los
Angeles County in 1994, federal food assistance programs brought more than $1
billion into the economy, supporting retailers, wholesalers, processors, and other
related industries. With a multiplier effect of three, food assistance programs
stimulated the L.A. County economy with a total value of over $3 billion in 1994.
The food stamp and other food assistance programs act as automatic stabilizers,
moderating recessions by infusing more purchasing power into state and local
economies when jobs are lost. The elimination of this stabilizing mechanism by
converting food stamps from an entitlement program to a block grant is likely to
make future recessions deeper and more protracted.³⁶
Emergency Food Assistance
Critics of the federal role in food assistance contend that the private sector, such as
churches, can "step up to the plate" and fill in for reduced government aid. This
contention is problematic. As noted above, the emergency food system is
overwhelmed with existing demand, while facing the prospect of diminished
resources. The restructuring of the supermarket industry in Los Angeles has already
reduced corporate donations to food banks. Sushma Rahman, executive director of
the Emergency Food and Shelter Program, testified that many charitable programs
receive federal funding, which if diminished would reduce their ability to meet
even existing demand.³⁷
Numerous emergency food system leaders testified that their organizations will not
be able to "pick up the slack" left by cutbacks in food assistance programs. 38 The
magnitude of assistance by the federal government and private organizations is
exponentially different, with one operating in the billions and the other in the
millions of dollars. 39 With reductions in federal commodities, industry waste, and
35 CFPA, P. 7
36 CFPA, P. 6
Sushma Rahman, EFSP, VACH Hearing April 13,1995
38 Bruce Rankin Westside Food Bank, VACH Hearing March 30,1995; Vivian Rothstein, Ocean Park
Community Center, VACH Hearing March 30,1995; Doris Bloch, LA Regional FoodBank, VACH
Hearing April 13,1995
39 Bruce Rankin, Westside Food Bank, VACH Hearing March30, 1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:39 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 6
a public worn down by 15 years of hunger "emergencies," food banks are not a stable
and sustainable source of food for the poor. Even if the emergency food system
could meet increased demand, there still exists the larger question of whether it
should become a permanent feature of the food system landscape.
The structure of the emergency food system discourages long-term solutions to the
persistent problem of hunger. Originally designed as a humanistic measure to
cutbacks in the federal safety net during the 1980s, it is a collective result of a
grassroots movement to avert massive hunger and suffering. To borrow from a
well-used proverb, it has given people fish rather than teaching them how to fish.
The emergency food system has also inadvertently shaped public debate around
efforts. hunger, diverting attention from policy-oriented solutions toward individualistic
C. Other nutrition related problems
While hunger is often thought of in terms of insufficiency of calories, lack of
resources to purchase food (as well as other factors such as access and education)
affects dietary choices in multiple ways. Poor dietary choices (and hunger) have
extensive health and social impacts. Many low income residents, as members of
minority groups, are at higher risk of nutritionally related diseases. These impacts
are especially salient among children.
Among low-income children in Los Angeles, anemia and obesity present severe
health threats. The medical director of a clinic serving the largely immigrant
population of Pico-Union testified that he found 20-25% of the children he
examined to be anemic. Anemia, or low iron consumption, is often associated with
an inability to concentrate, poor attention, poor development and school
performance, and a lowered activity level.40 Similarly, recent research has
demonstrated the relationship between what children eat and what they learn in
school. Undernutrition can retard physical growth as well as cognitive functioning.
Low income children who participate in the school breakfast program have been
shown to achieve better test scores and have lower rates of absence and tardiness
than their counterparts who do not participate in the program.⁴¹
Among adults and children alike, obesity is a common and severe health threat.
Paradoxically, a lack of resources can lead to a diet of inexpensive foods high in fat,
resulting in obesity. Roughly one quarter of children examined at the afore-
mentioned Pico-Union clinic were found to be obese.⁴²
40 Dr. David Wood, Clinica para las Americas, VACH Hearing March9,1995
41 Laura Sherman, Tufts University Center on Hunger Policy, VACH Hearing March30,1995
42 Dr. David Wood, VACH Hearing March 9,1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:40 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 7
Many diet related diseases affect minorities regardless of their socio-economic status.
In adult Latinos and African-Americans, disproportionate rates of cancers, heart
disease, diabetes, and hypertension are common. These diseases are linked to diets
high in saturated fats and low in fiber and produce. 43 Below is a chart indicating the
incidence of diet-related diseases among Latinos and African-Americans:44
TABLE 1: INCIDENCE OF DIET-RELATED DISEASES AMONG MINORITIES
DISEASE
AFRICAN-AMERICANS
LATINOS
Cancer
Higher than average for
Excess incidence of cervix,
stomach
gallbladder, stomach,
pancreas, esophagus;
Lower incidence of colon
and breast
Childhood Anemia
20-33% prevalence
High prevalence of iron
deficiency in children
Cirrhosis
Mexican American men
at 40% higher risk than
White men
Diabetes
Higher than average
3 times more common
than among Whites
More severe in nature
Heart Disease
Twice as common as
Higher prevalence than
among Whites
Whites
Hypertension
Death rate 10.2 times
White death rate for
males; 13.2 times for
females
Low Birth Weight
110% higher rate than
Whites; 2.5 times higher
rate for very low birth
weight
(< 1500 grams)
Obesity
44%
of
women
30% Mexican American
overweight
men obese
39% Mexican American
women obese
A number of societal and individual factors affect dietary consumption. These
include income and price, education, cultural preferences, and access.
43 Shiriki Kumanvika, "Diet and Chronic Disease for Minority Populations," J. Nutrition Education,
22(2).
44 Ashman, p. 33
JUN-26-96 WED 10:41 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
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P. 8
Inadequate diets are commonly assumed to be grounded in inadequate knowledge
of nutrition. Research has linked increased prevalence of higher cardiovascular
disease risk factors for Latinos to their lower levels of knowledge about such risk
factors. 45 The lack of nutrition education targeted at Spanish-speakers may be one
factor negatively affecting dietary choices among Latinos.
Income and price clearly affect food purchases and consumption. Limited resources
often preclude purchase of more expensive nutritious foods in favor of cheaper less
healthful foods. High prices in inner city supermarkets and "mom and pop" grocery
stores ( see next section) translate into reduced ability to purchase a wide variety of
nutritionally adequate food. 46
Lack of access to healthy foods, especially fruits and vegetables, can also present a
barrier to a healthy diet. As seen in the next section, many inner city Angelenos
must rely on small neighborhood grocery stores where the ingredients for a
nutritionally adequate diet are rarely available. These "mom and pop" stores tend
to carry many processed foods, with high sugar, salt and fat contents, and relatively
little produce beyond a few items, often of poor quality. 47
D. Retail Issues
Along with the issue of low income levels, the lack of adequate food retail stores
presents one of the most fundamental causes of food insecurity for inner city
Angelenos. Forced to rely on inadequate corner stores and pay high prices, inner city
residents face structural challenges to obtaining a nutritionally adequate diet.
Relatively low car ownership rates combined with bus lines not designed for food
shopping aggravate access problems for inner city residents affected by the flight of
neighborhood supermarkets.
Promises by the supermarket industry in the wake of the 1992 civil disturbances to
rebuild in South Central and other affected communities highlight the degree to
which these stores moved out of the inner city over the past 20 years. While the
restructuring of the supermarket industry during the 1970s and 1980s resulted in a
reduction of the number of stores regionwide, inner city communities, due to a lack
of transportation options, were affected disproportionately. 48 The merger fever of
the 1980s (as with Vons and Safeway and possibly with Ralph's and Yucaipa)
accelerated pressures to close off marginally profitable operations in inner city
locations.⁴ Ralph's has closed 54 stores in Southern California since the merger
45 C.E. Basch et al, "Food Sources, Dietary Behavior, and the Saturated Fat Intake of Latino
Children" American Journal of Pediatric Health 82(6)
46 Ashman, P. 36
47 Ibid, P. 35
48 Ibid, Executive summary
49lbid, P. 86
JUN-26-96 WED 10:41 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 9
suburban and one inner city communities found that a basic market basket for a
family of three would cost $279 more per year when purchased in inner city
supermarkets. More significantly, an identical market basket would cost a
household of median income residing and shopping in the inner city 35% of their
income as compared to 11-16% of a median income household residing and
shopping in the suburban communities.57 These figures are especially noteworthy
given the aforementioned high costs of rent.
As a result of these issues, many inner city residents view the development of new
supermarkets as their primary community development choice, according to needs
assessments by Esperanza Community Housing Corporation, RLA, and UCLA.
RLA's recent study indicated that 51% of people interviewed in areas affected by the
1992 civil disturbances ranked food stores as their number one choice for what they
want in their community. The telephone survey conducted as part of Seeds of
Change found that 80% of interviewees would like a new supermarket in their
neighborhood.
New supermarkets in inner city Los Angeles have been promised by virtually all
major chains. Economic analysis reveals that the primary rationale for this
redevelopment is not good corporate citizenship, but saturation in the suburban
markets. The inner city has become the "inner frontier" for capital expansion. A
recent article in the Harvard Business Review touts the growth potential of inner
city markets, noting that in Los Angeles, the retail penetration of supermarkets per
resident in the inner city as compared to the rest of the city is 35%.59
Perhaps one of the fundamental lessons of the 1992 riots with regards to the food
system, is the need for food stores to increase the sense of community ownership or
engagement. If new supermarkets are to thrive in the inner city, carefully cultivated
relations between the community and the chain must be developed. Experience
shows that costly problems such as cart loss, shrink, and security can be minimized
through community input in the operation and participation in the ownership of
the store.6 Success stories about community-store partnerships are not infrequent.
One of the best known is the joint venture between the non-profit New
Communities Corporation and Pathmark in Newark, which has the highest sales
per sq. ft. of any store in New Jersey.61 Another less well-known example involves
Fine's Market in Boyle Heights, whose customers, grateful for the store's pick-up
and drop-off van service, prevented it from being looted during the 1992 civil
⁵⁷Ashman, P. 164. Lakewood and Montebello were chosen as the suburban commuities due to their ethnic
and income characteristics, while the inner city community was the Seeds of Change case study area,
northeast of USC.
58 Ashman, P. 83
59 Michael Porter, 'The Competitive Advantage of the Inner City," Harvard Business Review, May-
June, 1995
60 James O'Connor and Barbara Abell, "Successful Supermarkets in Low Income Inner Cities" Arlington,
VA, 1992
61 Interview with Lynne Mertz, New Communities Corporation, May 1995
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because of their poor performance or anti-trust concerns.⁵⁰ In inner city L.A., the
number of full service chain supermarkets declined 30%, from 44 in 1975 to 31 in
1991. 51
Research by the UCLA Department of Urban Planning has developed the concept of
and mapped "supermarket deficient areas" in LA County (See map 1) Defined by a
combination of low rates of vehicle ownership and the absence of a supermarket
within walking distance (defined as .5 miles), these areas can be said to be those
where access to food is highly problematic (While many suburban residents do not
live within walking distance to a supermarket, their high car ownership rates
preclude access problems).5 Almost one million persons in L.A. County live in
supermarket deficient areas, with a large portion within city boundaries. In these
areas, there is roughly one supermarket per 27,000 persons as compared to one per
16,000 in the County as a whole. Each of these markets serves 70% more people than
the County average. 53
Without access to a vehicle or a supermarket within walking distance, many
residents of "supermarket deficient areas" rely on either expensive taxis which
burden their already limited resources, or buses. Bus routes, however, are more
often designed to feed commuters into downtown than around the food shopping
needs of neighborhood residents. An analysis of supermarket location and bus
routes in one L.A. neighborhood found that residents would have to transfer one or
two times to reach a nearby supermarket (See map 2).5% These difficulties result in
shoppers unable to purchase large money saving sizes, or having to rely on
neighborhood grocery stores for a greater percentage of their food purchases. A
recent L.A. Times article detailed how one transit-dependent shopper, juggling two
small children and multiple bags of groceries, was forced to leave behind a gallon of
milk in order to purchase needed laundry detergent.⁵⁵
Prices
Even when inner city shoppers do avoid the limited selection and exorbitant prices
of corner grocery stores and make it to the nearest supermarket, they are still faced
with the inequitable situation of high prices. Numerous studies nationwide have
demonstrated the prevalence of high prices in inner city supermarkets. The industry
cites higher costs in transportation, land, labor, cart loss, theft, and security as factors
in the price differential.56 A thorough comparison of supermarket prices in two
50George White, Ralphs to Lay Off 1,000; Merger With Food 4 Less Parent Cited" LA Times March 3,
1996
⁵¹[bid, P. 86
S2 Marc Dohan, "An Analysis of Supermarkets in Los Angeles County," Unpublished paper, UCLA.
1994. The cut-off level for low vehicle ownership is 80th percentile level, or 17.8% of households
without access to a vehicle as determined by Summary File 3A of the 1990 US Census
53 Dohan
54 Ashman. P. 157
55 Jane Gross, "Getting There the Hard Way, Every Day" LA Times July 16, 1995
56 Ashman, P. 131
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disturbances.⁶ These examples point toward the need for innovative programs and
community economic development oriented solutions to the city's access and
hunger problems.
E. Solutions
To the problems discussed above, the VACH has identified a series of solutions
which if combined in a "basket of strategies" can significantly improve the food
security of all Angelenos. There does not exist any one "magic bullet" solution. The
synthesis of many different strategies is necessary to address the broad range of food
insecurity parameters. This section will look at a series of programs ranging from
supermarket development to farmers' markets, community gardens, transportation,
and advocacy for federal food assistance programs.
Retail
The first set of solutions addresses retail deficiencies. They are grounded in a greater
community engagement in the food distribution system. The Local Initiative
Support Corporation (LISC), has established an equity fund (The Retail Initiative
TRI) to assist community development corporations in building inner city
supermarkets as joint ventures. The joint venture model is an important one, as it
provides for the recirculation of local dollars into community based projects. Profits
earned from joint ventures may return to the community in the form of child care
centers, affordable housing, and transportation services. Through training and
hiring local residents, allowing community input into the product mix and store
operation, joint venture arrangements can increase a community's sense of
ownership of a store, and enhance its success.63 In Los Angeles, LISC officials are
working with two CDCs to build joint ventures in South Central.
While LISC will provide funding for the construction of full-size supermarkets,
RLA has offered another plan to meet community retail needs. After completing
community needs assessments and an inventory of available lands, RLA is laying
the groundwork for the creation of a network of smaller 8,000 to 14,000 sq. ft. stores.
The small size of these stores, as compared to the typical 40,000 sq. ft supermarket,
would allow for construction on the numerous small parcels available throughout
the inner city. To ensure economies of scale and competitive prices, the stores
would be linked through a cooperative buying arrangement.65
The Korean Youth and Community Center has developed a similar plan to RLA. It
is collaborating with Korean-owned mom and pop stores to develop cooperative
buying arrangements which could result in lower prices and a wider range of
62 Interview with Alan Fine, Fine's Market, May 1995, by Andy Fisher
63 Ashman; Interview with Lynne Mertz, NCC, May 1995
64 Ralph Lippman, LISC, VACH Hearing March 20,1995
65 Linda Griego, RLA, VACH Hearing March 30,1995
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product. 66 Common among their approaches is a core notion that these stores must
be engaged with the communities in which they are located.
Farmers' Markets
In communities where adequate retail outlets are scarce, certified farmers' markets
play an important role in providing access to fresh, affordable produce. Farmers'
markets provide benefits to growers, consumers, and communities alike. Growers
receive prices substantially higher than wholesale (30% by one estimate), cash in
hand, and reduced packing costs. Consumers on the other hand receive fresher
produce, at lower or comparable prices than supermarkets in an open air festival
style atmosphere. 67 Farmers' markets also serve as a community meeting place,
where other services such as immunizations, mammographs, blood screenings, and
seed giveaways have been provided. They lay the groundwork for inter-cultural
communication through tasting new foods and swapping recipes.
Community Gardens/Urban Agriculture
Through the process of converting an empty or blighted lot into a flourishing
vegetable and flower patch, community gardening and urban agriculture projects
provide multiple benefits to residents as well as possess great potential as a
community development tool. 68 Not only do they provide a source of nutritious
food for low income persons, - up to $600 on an average 64 sq. ft. plot according to
USDA estimates-, but they can also provide job training. By way of example, the
Homeless Garden Project in Santa Cruz employs homeless persons as part of its 2.5
acre operation, providing them with the stability and nurturance to get off the
streets.69
In park-scarce inner city L.A., community gardens are often utilized as parks, where
celebrations such as birthday parties are held. Community gardens are the only
public gathering space in many neighborhoods. They are safe places where parents
can allow their children to run freely, and where recent immigrants can share their
cultural knowledge through gardening. Through the medium of gardening clubs,
community gardens play a powerful role in community development, as neighbors
get to know each other and build a greater stake in their community. Gardens also
enhance urban environments, transforming "concrete jungles" into real miniature
jungles. Finally, community gardens (and school gardens in particular) play an
effective nutrition education role. As one local elementary school teacher
commented, "Kids will eat anything that they grow."70
66 Pat Wong, KYCC, VACH Hearing March 20,1995
67 A survey at farmers' markets conducted as part of Seeds of Change project found that 60% of
consumers believed that prices at CFMs were lower than at supermarkets.
68 Lamont Bristol, PACE, VACH Hearing April 27,1995
69 Interview with Lynne Basehore, Santa Cruz Homeless Garden Project, May 1995
70 Interview with Nancy Beasley, Edison Elementary School Santa Monica August 1995
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Microenterprises
Community-based food production businesses possess great potential for job
creation. The Hartford Food System's hydroponic greenhouse, built on a vacant lot
donated by the City, employed four to five persons full time in growing lettuce for
local supermarkets, restaurants, and other institutions. 71 In Los Angeles, Food from
the Hood's salad dressing business, run by Crenshaw High School students, has
garnered praise as a model economic dévelopment project, as well as netted inner
city students hundreds of thousands of dollars for college scholarships.72
Labor
Historically, the food retail industry has been an important source of family wage
jobs for inner city residents. The growth of independent and warehouse format
stores has led to a decline in union scale jobs with good benefit packages. The
maintenance of well paying supermarket jobs is crucial as an economic
development strategy for inner city communities. 73
Transportation
The final set of solutions lay within the field of transportation. In Austin, Texas, at
the behest of the new Food Policy Council, a new bus route has been added to assist
low income shoppers in accessing supermarkets.7 A similar effort in Los Angeles
through a re-evaluation of bus routes could facilitate food shopping. Research by
the UCLA Department of Urban Planning to develop a model van service for
supermarkets also holds great promise in increasing inner city residents' access to
nearby supermarkets."⁵
Advocacy for Public Benefits
As we have seen above, federal food assistance and welfare programs provide
crucial income support functions, averting further food insecurity and hunger.
Given high unemployment rates and low minimum wages, without the
continuation of these programs in a substantial fashion, efforts to increase access
through retail and farmers' market development can only provide half of the
picture. Advocacy for public benefits targeted at the County, state, and federal
government is an essential activity for ensuring the food security of all Angelenos.
F. Policy Related Issues
The expansion of community-based approaches to address questions of hunger and
food access necessitates the formulation among individual agencies and
departments of comprehensive and coordinated food-related policies and programs.
Already embedded within the policies and activities of many agencies are de facto
71 Ashman, P. 182
72 Interview with Tammy Bird, Food from the Hood, May, 1995
73 Andrea Zinder, Union of Food and Commercial Workers Local 770, VACH Hearing March 20,1995
74 Interview with Kate Fitzgerald, Sustainable Food Center, August 1995
75 Linda O'Connor, UCLA Dept of Urban Planning, VACH Hearing April 27,1995
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food policies. Greater attention and coordination of these policies is needed to
ensure food security for all residents of Los Angeles. By way of example, the
Planning Department and Community- Redevelopment Agency (CRA) should play
pivotal roles in improving access to affordable and nutritious food through such
policies as granting parking lot size variances, facilitating public finance, and
assisting in land assembly for new supermarkets in supermarket deficient areas in
exchange for greater community ownership and participation in the operation of
the stores. Similarly, the Community Development Department, through block
granting mechanisms (CDBG) in conjunction with the Environmental Affairs
Department should promote community-oriented programs and policies to address
food insecurity and hunger, such as community gardens. Current CDD funding for
community gardens should be substantially increased. The Metropolitan Transit
Agency should re-examine its bus routes around the facilitation of intra-
neighborhood food shopping.
Many of the testifiers at the VACH Hearings expressed the need for pro-active city
policies around concrete components of the food system. Both Lamont Bristol and
Debbie Fryman of L.A. Harvest cited the absence of a coordinated policy in the
Department of Water and Power (DWP) as a major barrier to the development of
community gardens.⁷⁶ Ms. Fryman recommended a "one-stop shopping"
permitting process for community gardens, as is currently conducted in New York
and Philadelphia. Similarly, Marion Kalb of Southland Farmers' Market
Association argued that a centralized process for farmers' market permits would be
more efficient and facilitate their development."
Through exploring the wide reach of food and hunger issues, across departments
(Health Services, Community Development, Planning, CRA, MTA, Environmental
Affairs), jurisdictions (federal, state, county, and city), and disciplines (Planning,
Public Health, Social Work, Agriculture, Public Policy, Business Administration),
VACH research has demonstrated the need for a coordinated municipal approach to
the long-term resolution of hunger. Such an approach can be undertaken only by a
new body comprised of stakeholders from the various sectors of the food system and
vested with an official advisory capacity to the City in policy and program
development. This public private partnership, entitled the Los Angeles Food
Security and Hunger Partnership, like similar entities existing in half dozen cities
across the nation, will play an instrumental role in facilitating community efforts to
reduce hunger and overseeing the development of municipal policies and their
intersection with state and federal programs.
Financial Sustainability
The Los Angeles Food Security and Hunger Partnership should be financially
sustainable, and not exclusively dependent upon funding from. the City. The City
should provide initial seed funding for the start-up phase of the Partnership. The
76 Lamont Bristol, PACE; Debbie Fryman, LA Harvest, VACH Hearing April 27,1995
77 Marion Kalb, Southland Farmers' Market Association, VACH Hearing April 27,1995
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Partnership should establish a viable on-going funding base from its stakeholders
drawing on a broad-base of sponsors in the private, independent, and public sectors.
As its purview crosses many fields, its sponsors will come from a number of
different arenas including social services, community development, environment,
health, economic development.
Measurable Results
In its first twelve months, the LA Food Security and Hunger Partnership (LAFSHP)
should achieve the following:
Assist in the identification and selection of LAFSHP stakeholders;
Develop criteria for and publish an annual hunger index;
Hold six meetings of the LAFSHP;
Research and publish a State of Food Security in Los Angeles Report;
Raise adequate funding to ensure the continuation of the LAFSHP;
Identify demonstration projects.
22
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C. Structure
The LAFSHP will be an advisory body to the City. An adjunct non-profit (501c(3))
organization will be established, with the 18 stakeholders (designated in Section D)
serving as its Board of Directors. The purpose of the non-profit organization will be
to help provide funding to the Partnership for staffing and the carrying out of its
mission. Until funding is available to ensure the smooth and full operation of the
Partnership, transitional staffing could be provided through existing organizations
such as Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition and the Pollution
Prevention Education and Research Center of UCLA. The Partnership will establish
an adjunct Research Arm through a joint USC/UCLA partnership, encouraging
participation from faculty, staff, and students in a wide variety of disciplines from
the region's community colleges, colleges, and universities.
D. Composition
The LAFSHP will be composed of 18 partners, 6 appointed by the Mayor, 6 appointed
by the President of City Council (with input from the Community and Economic
Development Committee chair), and 6 by the Community Development
Department. The Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger will be available to the
appointing parties as an advisor in the appointment process. The chair will be
elected by the partners annually. The partners will serve staggered two and three
year terms, and will represent the stakeholder positions in the food system.
The 18 members of the Partnership will consist of the following stakeholders:
One representative from the private food retail industry;
One small grocery store owner or representative from an organization
working with small grocery stores;
Two representatives from the religious community knowledgeable in
food/hunger issues, and reflecting the religious diversity of Los Angeles;
Two appointments at large;
Two representative from an organization working on economic and
community development in low-income neighborhoods;
One representative from a community gardening organization;
One representative from labor involved in food retailing or processing;
One representative from an anti-hunger organization;
One representative from a farmers' market association;
One representative from a food bank or other emergency food system
provider;
One representative from a nutrition-based organization;
One representative from the academic community;
Three LA City residents who represent clients of agencies that participate in
the anti-hunger and food security system
The following agencies may appoint one ex-officio non-voting member:
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It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to promote neighborhood based food
production, processing, and marketing which stimulate living wage job creation in
its development and community plans.
Empowerment
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to promote empowerment-oriented
solutions to the problems of hunger and food insecurity.
Urban Agriculture and Community Gardening
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to facilitate the development and operation
of community gardens and community-based agriculture projects within city limits.
Farmers' Markets
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to facilitate the development and operation
of certified farmers' markets, especially in those areas with deficient food access.
Nutrition
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to support public, independent, and private
efforts to promote healthy food choices.
Transportation
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles that food shopping shall be taken into
account when planning public transportation programs and resources, especially in
highly transit dependent communities.
Cooperation
It is the policy of the City of Los Angeles to work cooperatively with its residents,
local farmers, community organizations, private food industry, labor, and all levels
of government to improve the food security of all residents.
Emergency Planning
The City shall promote policies which encourage the self-reliance of residents with
respect to food production and processing as a form of emergency food planning.
Lobbying and Advocacy
The goals and objectives of the Partnership and projects it sponsors or supports
should be incorporated into the intergovernmental polciies of the City of Los
Angeles.
Environmental
As a result of its various food-related policies and programs, the City shall strive to
ensure that the environment is not degraded nor its citizens exposed to
environmental hazards in the production of local foods.
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US Department of Health and Human Services
USDA/FCS
"
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Appendix B: Proposed Budget:
Los Angeles Food Security and Hunger Partnership
Personnel:
Executive Director
$60,000
Support Staff
$35,000
Benefits @ 21%
$19,950
Contract Services
$20,000
Subtotal
$134,950
Administration:
Equipment*
$8,000
Rent* ($700/mo)
$8,400
Utilities*
$1,500
Insurance*
$1,000
Subtotal
$18,400
Program:
Conferences
$5,000
Demonstration Projects Seed Funds
$15,000
Postage*
$6,000
Printing*
$15,000
Telephone
$3,000
Travel/Mileage
$5,000
Subtotal
$49,000
Total:
$202,350
* Possible in-kind from City of Los Angeles
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APR 15 1996
Robert Farrell
-2-
The development and submission of an annual Food Security and Hunger Report for the
City.
The development of a set of food security and hunger indicators.
The on-going collection and review of data related to the nutritional needs of City
residents.
The Community Development Department supports the basic VACH developed hunger policy
concept and objectives, as overviewed in this document. We further indicate, subject to
Council/Mayor approval, that funds be provided toward these objectives in decreasing amounts
over a four (4) year period as follows:
First year
$100,000
Second year
80,000
Third year
60,000
Fourth year
40,000
These funds will function as "seed money" for the first formative years of LAFSHP operation.
We expect that within this period, the LAFSHP will become self-sustaining and will have
normalized all basic partnership systems.
The CDD will provide technical assistance to the LAFSH during its developmental period.
In conclusion, throughout its seventeen months of existence, the VACH has put forward
considerable energy, applied excellent skills and shown high resolve toward helping this City help
its hungry. These actions warrant high commendation and a hearty and sincere thank you on
behalf of this Department
PARKER C. ANDERSON
General Manager
CC: Gloria Clark
vacbbob
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FEB 20 '96 10:05AM FERRARO
P.2
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF Los ANGELES
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
JOHN FERRARO
x-30. CITY MALL
LOB ANGELES. 64 DOOIS
COUNCILMAN aim DISTRICT
(ma) 488-3357
February 16, 1996
sax (a) 884.7810
Mr. Robert Farrell, Chair
Ms. Elizabeth Riley, Vice Chair
Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger
c/o Community Development Department
214 West Sixth Street, 6th Floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Dear Mr. Farrell & Ms. Riley:
Thank you both for your tireless efforts in working for the establishment of a Los
Angeles City Hunger and Food Security policy and the creation of a structure for a
public-private partnership to serve as an advisory body to the City and to work to
provide food security and combat hunger.
The leadership of the VACH are to be commended on their vision and the careful
research and thought that they invested in the development of the draft policy and
plan. It seems wise to anticipate the incorporation of pilot programs in the initial
efforts of the LAFSHP, targeting various communities in the City. Such a "leam by
doing" approach may well provide the best guide for a final composition and
structure that would prove most effective and efficient for the LAFSHP in meeting its
goals.
I appreciate your letting me know of your progress. Please continue to keep me
informed as your proposal is reviewed by the appropriate City departments and
committees.
Sincerely,
JOHN FERRARO
Conncilman, Johnson 4th District
F:gip
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Hunger and Food Insecurity in Los Angeles:
Findings of the Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger
Final Report
April, 1996
Prepared by:
Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger
c/o Community Development Department
215 West Sixth Street 6th floor
Los Angeles, CA 90014
Andrew Fisher, Interfaith Hunger Coalition, consultant
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P.
I. INTRODUCTION
A. What is the VACH?
On Thanksgiving eve, 1986 Councilmembers Richard Alatorre and Robert Farrell
introduced a motion in response to a community based initiative by Campaign for
Life which has led the effort for more than nine years to secure the adoption of a Los
Angeles City Food Security and Hunger Policy.
The Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger (VACH) was established by an act of
City Council on August 4, 1989 at the recommendation of the Chairman of the
Grants, Housing, and Community Development Committee. Ex-Councilman
Robert Farrell and Steve Saltzman, of the Campaign for Life played instrumental
roles in the VACH's creation. The action created a nine member council, appointed
by the Mayor, the Community Development Department (CDD), and the President
of City Council. Its responsibilities include the development, promotion, and
coordination of a City Policy on Hunger; establishment of a clearinghouse for
information; evaluation of existing resources and progress in solving hunger
problems in the City; development of recommendations toward the eradication of
hunger; and holding yearly hearings on the state of hunger in the City.
After the appointment of its nine members, the first meeting of the VACH took
place in October, 1994, with consulting services provided by Cheryl Cromwell and
Associates and Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition. CDD's Human
Services and Neighborhood Development Division personnel have staffed the
process. Since then, the VACH has held meetings on roughly a monthly basis. Its
activities have centered around sponsoring six hearings held in the different
Community Improvement Planning Areas during March and April, 1995, and the
formulation of a hunger and food security policy.
The VACH is composed of nine members. They are:
Bishop Charles Blake West Angeles Church of God in Christ
Blanca Cintron Scot, City of Hope
Robert Farrell
Irene Gomez
Robert Gottlieb UCLA Department of Urban Planning
David Kessler
Elizabeth Riley, Interfaith Hunger Coalition
Berta Saavedra, Los Angeles Alliance for a Drug-Free Community
Steven Saltzman, Campaign for Life
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B. Hunger/Problem Statement
Hunger incites mental images of babies with swollen bellies and severe nutritional
deficiencies. Yet hunger in the context of the United States in the 1990s, is a
different phenomenon. While in the Third World, hunger is typically measured in
terms of height and weight, in the United States, with the absence of severe
conditions, hunger is largely a subjective phenomenon. This subjectivity renders it
exceedingly difficult to measure from a traditional scientific perspective. This
difficulty has led to a scarcity of data on the prevalence of hunger (now changing
with Community Childhood Hunger Identification Project studies) which in turn
can be seen as one of the causes of the lack of a federal hunger policy. 1
This is one of the primary reasons why this report recommends that the City adopt
the concept of food security as its framework of analysis. As a goal, food security has
been defined as "all people obtaining a culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate
diet through local non-emergency channels at all times."2 Measuring hunger in
terms of food security has the marked advantage of being able to identify the
necessary conditions for its prevention. Whereas hunger measures unfulfilled
individual needs, food security is prevention-oriented, evaluating the access to
resources- both community and individual -- including income, means of
transportation, storage and cooking facilities, food prices, food safety and other
environmental hazards, questions of ownership, and production and processing
methods-- to provide an individual with adequate acceptable food.3
The Community Food Security Empowerment Act, the product of a broad-based
coalition effort around the 1995 Farm Bill, explains further:
"A food security analysis embraces a systemic view of the causes of hunger and poor
nutrition within a community while identifying the changes necessary to prevent
their occurrence. As an effective tool for evaluating and addressing food and
agriculture policy, it emphasizes the need to build and coordinate community
institutions to ensure access and availability to an acceptable and adequate diet for its
residents. It should be seen as a form of community development and
empowerment which complements and extends the traditional approach of
addressing food and hunger issues at the individual level."4
National Issues
Food security and hunger are not issues unique to Los Angeles. Over the past 15
years, numerous studies to identify the extent of hunger have been conducted
nationwide. In California, some of the most recent examples have been by the San
9 1 Linda Ashman, et. al. Seeds of Change: Strategies for Food Security for the Inner City, UCLA, 1993 P.
2 Community Food Security Coalition, "Community Food Security Empowerment Act," January 1995
3 Ashman, P. 9; CFSEA
4 CFSEA, p. 1
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Francisco Food Bank, the Alameda County Community Food Bank, and the
California Policy Seminar. The Washington-based Food Research and Action Center
has coordinated a series of scientific studies (Community Childhood Hunger
Identification Project or CCHIP) of childhood hunger throughout the United States.
hungry in California.⁵
A California CCHIP study revealed that 700,000 children under the age of 12 go
Similarly, studies focusing on food access and price have been conducted in
numerous locales. In the past year, the Sustainable Food Center of Austin, Texas and
San Francisco's California Food Policy Advocates have conducted in-depth studies
of their low-income communities' food access situation.⁶ University of Connecticut
researchers, recently released "The Urban Grocery Store Gap" a definitive study on
the absence of supermarkets in 21 inner cities in conjunction with Public Voice for
Food and Health Policy, a national research and advocacy organization. Public Voice
also released in February, 1996 its own policy paper on urban supermarkets, calling
for greater federal involvement in inner city retail development.⁷ All of these
studies indicate that the issues found in Los Angeles - high rates of hunger, poor
access to supermarkets, high prices in the inner city, and lack of transportation
options - are common to most metropolitan areas in the country.
Despite these similarities with cities across the country, hunger and food security in
Los Angeles possess a unique situation. The multi-cultural character of Los Angeles
with its large immigrant population presents challenges with regards to language,
cultural acceptance of foods, and ability to receive public benefits. On the other
hand, this same cultural richness presents opportunities for small farmers and
community-based businesses to serve niche markets for culture-specific food
processing and production enterprises, as well as a virtually unparalleled forum for
cultural exchange.⁸ Likewise, L.A.'s geography can present both opportunities and
barriers to food security. The low-density of the city aggravates access problems for
auto-less residents. On the other hand, the mild climate and proximity of year-
round agriculture create substantial potential for strategies such as farmers' markets
and community gardens.
Anti-Hunger Resources
At many levels of government, there exist a number of programs and resources
aimed at hunger relief and income support. The structure and resources dedicated to
S Food Research and Action Center, "Hunger and At-Risk Estimates by State" July, 1995
6 Sustainable Food Center, "Access Denied" Austin, Texas, 1995; California Food Policy Advocates,
"Improving Access to Food in Low Income Communities," San Francisco, 1995
7 Ronald Cotterill, Andrew Franklin. "The Urban Grocery Store Gap" Food Marketing Policy Center,
University of Connecticut, 1995; Public Voice for Food and Health Policy "No Place to Shop:
Challenges and Opportunities Facing the Development of Supermarkets in Urban America",
Food Access Task Force.
Washington, DC, 1996. This report's author, Andrew Fisher was a member of Public Voice's Inner City
8 The growers of Asian vegetables at local farmers' markets and the now defunct Homeboy Tortillas are
two examples of small businesses that can serve culture-oriented markets.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:54 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 4
these programs, which play a crucial role as a safety net for millions of low-income
Americans, are inadequate. Many of the fourteen food assistance programs operated
by the federal government were originally conceived of, or are in effect agricultural
support rather than food security programs, diminishing their effectiveness. With a
lack of integration and a limited purview, the effectiveness of these programs is
often limited. By way of example, the lack of coherence between the four child
nutrition programs results in many low-income children going hungry , as many
schools are unwilling to burden themselves with additional paperwork to establish
summer food or school breakfast programs.⁹ Similarly, USDA has not considered
until recently the negative effect of high store prices and limited access on the
purchasing power of food stamps.¹⁰
A brief description of the federal food assistance program follows:
Food Stamp Program. The primary entitlement program operated by USDA. It
provides more than 26 million people with vouchers redeemable for food.
Maximum benefits for a family of three is $313.
Women, Infants, and Children. WIC provides pregnant women, nursing
mothers, and children with nutrition education and vouchers redeemable for
high protein and high iron foods such as beans, peanut butter, orange juice,
milk, eggs, and cheese. It has been deemed to save over three dollars in health
care costs for every dollar spent. WIC served 7 million persons last year.
Child Nutrition Programs. These include School Lunch, School Breakfast,
Special Milk, Summer Food, and Child and Adult Care Feeding Programs.
School meals programs have been shown to be effective as educational support
programs, improving test scores, and reducing tardiness and absence. In 1995, 24
million children participated in the School Lunch Program.
Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program. TEFAP provides agricultural
commodities to the emergency food system. Originally designed as an
agricultural support program to reduce the level of government held surplus
dairy products, funding for TEFAP has been frozen or reduced in recent budgets.
TEFAP serves 1.6 million persons per month in California, and had a national
budget of $80 million in 1995.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program. CSFP provides supplemental
commodities to pregnant women. It operates on a limited basis in California. Its
budget in 1995 was $84 million, serving 363,000 persons monthly.
9 Ashman, P. 16
10 USDA held its first Conference on Access to Food on September 17-18, 1995. Andrew Fisher of the
VACH presented on food security in Los Angeles.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:54 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
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P. 5
WIC Farmers' Market Nutrition Program. The FMNP provides vouchers to WIC
clients redeemable for fresh produce at farmers' markets. It has been widely
praised as an innovative nutrition education and economic development
program. Its budget was $6.75 million for 1995.
Seniors Programs. Home Delivered and Congregate Meals Programs, authorized
by the Older Americans Act of 1965, provides meals for the elderly. These
programs are also administered by DHHS. These programs were funded at $150
million in 1995, and served 20 million meals per month across the nation.
Not considered federal food assistance programs, but providing important support
to low income persons are the:
Emergency Food and Shelter Program. EFSP, operated by the Federal Emergency
Management Administration, distributes funding to local food and shelter
providers. In 1993, its budget was $129 million, $55 million of which provided 16
million meals in soup kitchens and 57 million meals for home consumption.
Community Food and Nutrition Program. The CFNP, operated by the
Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), provides funding to
grassroots groups to conduct hunger and nutrition advocacy. Funding for 1995
was $6 million.
California and Los Angeles
At the state level, California operates two of the principal welfare programs: Aid to
Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and Supplemental Social Income (SSI).
Mandated and paid for in part by the federal government, AFDC provides low-
income parents (primarily women) and children with cash grants (a family of three
currently receives $607 per month). At the heart of the debate on welfare reform,
AFDC has been the target of cutbacks by the Wilson Administration. AFDC grant
levels are key to the food security of 678,000 Los Angeles County residents (as of
1993). 11
Los Angeles County operates the other principal welfare program: General Relief
(GR). GR provides single indigent adults (largely men) with minimal subsistence
grants. In 1996, GR grants of $212 per month, or $12 more than the price of a Skid
Row hotel room, were awarded to 86,000 persons countywide. 12 Benefit levels were
recently reduced from $285 to alleviate the County's fiscal crisis, with the possibility
of further reductions looming on the horizon. These cutbacks will undeniably result
in further hunger and homelessness.
11 Los Angeles Commission for Public Social Services, "Federal Welfare Reform Proposals" August, 1995
12 California Department of Social Services Information Services Bureau, "Public Welfare in
California," February, 1995; Interview with Frank Tamborello, Interfaith Hunger Coalition, August,
1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:55 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
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Emergency Programs
For the hungry, food pantries and soup kitchens are often the place of last resort.
Providing a meal or a bag of groceries, whose size and contents vary widely.
depending upon donations and funding, food pantries play a crucial role plugging
the holes in the safety net for hundreds of thousands of people in Los Angeles. L.A.
Regional Foodbank, the largest food bank in the region, serves 755 agencies, which
in turn help feed 300,000 persons per week throughout the County. 13 Despite these
massive efforts, food pantries routinely report that they can not meet the needs of
their communities. Instead, they are forced to turn people away, or reduce the
contents or the frequency of the package given away.14
II. VACH HEARINGS
As part of the policy-making process, the Volunteer Advisory Council on Hunger
held six hearings in the different Community Improvement Planning Areas of the
City. The hearings were held during on weekdays at 10:00 am-1:00 pm. The hearings
were held in locations utilized for previous Community Development Department
hearings. The hearings consisted of three parts: testimony from a series of invited
speakers around a common theme, each of which typically spoke for approximately
period. 10 minutes in length, a question and answer period, and an open public comment
Interfaith Hunger Coalition coordinated the hearings, and developed the themes
for the hearings in conjunction with the VACH. They included: Children and the
Elderly, Retail Issues, Federal Food Assistance Programs and Poverty, The
Emergency Food System and the Homeless, Nutrition Education and Nutritonal
Needs, and Community Gardens, Farmers' Markets, and Other Community-Based
Strategies. The schedule for the hearings was as follows:
13 Interview with Lori Bemstein, LA Regional FoodBank, August, 1995
14 Interview with Bruce Rankin, Westside Food Bank, August, 1995
JUN-26-96 WED 10:56 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 7
March 9, 1995. City Council Chambers, City Hall.
Focus: Children and the Elderly.
March 20, 1995. Kedren Mental Health Center, South Central.
Focus: Retail Issues.
March 30, 1995. Oakwood Recreation Center, Venice.
Focus: Federal Food Assistance Programs and Poverty.
April 7, 1995. World Port Building, San Pedro.
Focus: Emergency Food System and the Homeless.
April 20, 1995. Hollenbeck Recreation Center, Boyle Heights.
Focus: Nutrition Education and Nutritional Needs.
April 30, 1995. North Hollywood Recreation Center, North Hollywood.
Focus: Community Gardens, Farmers' Markets, and Community-Based
Strategies
Flyers announcing the hearings were sent to thousands of individuals and
organizations across the City, and announcements were posted in local newspapers.
Forty three persons from a wide range of organizations and occupations testified,
apart from a significant number of individuals who spoke during the open public
comment periods. These speakers included important political figures, such as
Mayor Riordan, Representative Xavier Becerra, and Councilmember Mike
Hernandez.
The breadth and depth of testimony presented two distinct but interconnected
portraits of hunger in Los Angeles. First, an unprecedented amount of data and
personal experiences indicated the severity and spread of hunger among Angelenos.
Second, the breadth of testimony sketched a non-traditional picture of hunger and
its causes, intimately related with core city and county policy and planning
functions. This powerful combination has opened a pivotal moment in the history
of the anti-hunger movement in L.A., and may also create an opening for a new
policy direction for Los Angeles municipal government.
The historical context in which this set of hearings took place clearly influenced the
concerns and activities of the testifiers. Coming three years after the civil
disturbances of 1992 and one year after the Northridge earthquake, we find a
number of presenters conducting community development activities defined by
those seminal events. Similarly, Congressional "welfare reform" legislation and its
potential effects on hunger in L.A. occupied the minds of many testifiers. In that
sense, these hearings have significance in both national and local policy forums.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:56 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 8
A number of general conclusions can be drawn from the hearings. Specific
conclusions are embedded within the findings section. Six themes emerged from
the hearings: the scope of hunger in Los Angeles; the social costs of hunger and poor
nutrition; concern about federal food assistance cutbacks and the inability of the
emergency food system to respond adequately; access and price issues; the need for
active role in food policy formation.
broad based long-term solutions for hunger; and the need for the City to develop an
III. FINDINGS
A. Extent of hunger/food insecurity
The most dramatic finding of the VACH has been the stubborn persistence of
hunger among residents of Los Angeles. Over the past 10-15 years, the rise of hunger
across the United States has been well documented. 15 Los Angeles is no exception to
this trend. In fact, macroeconomic conditions such as high unemployment rates, a
deep recession, the restructuring of the economy toward low paying service sector
jobs, combined with cutbacks in state welfare benefits have aggravated poverty and
hunger in Los Angeles.¹⁶
The lack of personal resources to purchase adequate food is perhaps the clearest
cause of hunger. High unemployment and low minimum wage rates,-- where
working a full time job can still qualify a family of three for food stamps--, have
combined with a dearth of affordable housing to reduce available income for food
for many low-income families. 17 Food is one of the most elastic items in a low-
is left over may be spent on food.
income family's budget. After paying rent, utilities, and other bills, whatever money
Poverty and hunger are correlated by definition: the federal poverty level is
determined by multiplying the cost of a hypothetical minimum food budget (the
Thrifty Food Plan) by three. In the City of Los Angeles, 19% of the population, or
684,727 persons live in poverty, and are considered to be "at-risk of hunger." The
poverty rate is highest for persons of Latino origin, (28.2%), followed by African-
15 Ashman, P. 14
16 As noted previously, hunger in the context of an industrialized nation is difficult to measure without
conducting in-depth interviews or clinical studies. A number of proxies are often used in their stead.
food sources. Anecdotes and personal experiences also complement and lend a human face to the
These include poverty rates, the use of federal food assistance programs and recurrence to emergency
numerical evidence.
17 The United States Conference of Mayors,' A Status Report on Hunger and Homelessness in America's
Cities 1993-- a 26 City Survey" Washington, DC, December 1993. High housing costs are considered to
be a primary cause of hunger.
JUN-26-96 WED 10:57 AM INTERFAITH HUNGER
FAX NO. 2136641725
P. 9
Americans (25.3%), Asians (14.8%), and Whites (13.1%).18 Poverty is highest in
Southeast Los Angeles.¹⁵
Food Assistance Programs
With eligibility set at low income levels, participation in federal food assistance
programs represents another measurement of need. 1.1 million persons in Los
Angeles County receive food stamps.20 The receipt of food stamps does not
guarantee freedom from hunger, however. With benefit levels set at 70 cents per
meal as compared to $1.20 needed for a nutritionally adequate diet, food stamp
benefits are insufficient. With regards to other food assistance programs, in L.A.
County, roughly 200,000 pregnant women, nursing mothers, and infants receive
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) coupons, while the City's Senior Nutrition
Program feeds 9,000 meals weekly to low income elderly, and has a 1,000 person
waiting list.22 Figures available for Los Angeles County indicate that 587,965 children
received free school lunches, and free commodities (TEFAP) were distributed to
535,769 needy individuals through the emergency food system.2
Emergency Food System Usage
Use of the emergency food system (or resorting to food pantries and soup kitchens
in times of need), is one of the most straightforward signs of food insecurity and
hunger. Food pantries are often the place of last resort for the hungry. With the rise
of poverty and hunger, the charitable food sector dramatically expanded throughout
the 1980s and 1990s due to increased demand.
In the dozen years between 1982 and 1994, L.A. Regional Food Bank increased its
distribution eleven-fold from 3 million lbs. to 33 million lbs.24 The number of food
pantries in the Los Angeles area has multiplied exponentially during the past
decade: an estimated 100 pantries in the Los Angeles area existed in 1982 as
compared to the 755 that L.A. Regional Foodbank alone serves in 1995.25
Despite these impressive mobilizations by the charitable food distribution sector,
their efforts continue to be insufficient to meet community needs. City-wide,
pantries consistently turn away numerous clients due to insufficient resources. One
expert estimates that pantries turn away up to 25% of clients.²⁶ Timothy Crayton, of
Oakwood Wesley House in Venice, estimates that free food distribution would have
18US Bureau of the Census Summary File 3A, 1990
19City of Los Angeles Department of Planning Research Section
20 Frank Tamborello, Interfaith Hunger Coalition, VACH Hearing March 9, 1995
21 Ashman, P. 19
22 Eloise Jenks, Public Health Foundation, Sharon Yancey, City Dept. of Aging, VACH Hearing March
9, 1995
23 California Food Policy Advocates, "Shifting the Burden: the Impact of Congressional Proposals on
Los Angeles County's Food and Nutrition Security," June 1995, P. 5
24 LA Regional FoodBank Distribution Figures, 1995
25 Ashman, P. 26; Doris Bloch, LA Regional Food Bank, VACH Hearing April 13, 1995
26 Ashman, P. 26
INTERFAITH
HUNGER
COALITION
2449 Hyperion Avenue
Y.A.H.C.
Suite 100
.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Youth Anti-Hunger Club
PHOTOCOPY
preservation
STARTUP INFORMATION PACK
SAVE
THE
-
Thursday April 6, 1995
for the Youth Anti Hunger Conference
Network With Other Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs all over Los Angeles!
Stay tuned for more details from The Interfaith Hunger Coaltion.
INTERFAITH
LOS
ANGELES
HUNGER
HUNGER
COALITION
NUTRITION & EMPOWERMENT program
2449 Hyperion Avenue
Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (213) 913-7333
Fax: (213) 664-1725
Publications: (213) 664-1692
February 13, 1995
President Clinton
Office of Scheduling and Advance
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
OEOB Room 185 1/2
Washington D.C. 20500
Fax: (202) 456-2461
Mr. President:
My name is Rick Lupert and I am a team leader for one of the five U.S.D.A. Anti-hunger
AmeriCorps projects. Our project is part of the Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition.
My team of seven AmeriCorps members and myself have been very busy since the launch on
September 12th working on a number of different Anti-Hunger projects in Los Angeles.
We have been working in school gardens at various schools in Los Angeles, attempting to
educate students about healthier and low cost eating alternatives, and create a sense of ownership
and pride amongst the school communities about their gardens. We have also established a
network of Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs at high schools in the greater Los Angeles area seeking to
capitalize on the energy and creativity of high school aged people in the fight against hunger in our
community.
Our next big project is the reason why I am contacting you. We are planning a large scale
Youth Anti-Hunger Conference for April 6, 1995. We will hold this event at the Scottish Rite
Temple facility at 4357 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. At this conference we will offer 2,000
high school students the opportunity to participate in a series of workshops and activities all geared
towards empowering them to feel that they can and must be involved in the fight to end hunger in
our local, national and world community. In addition, many community anti-hunger related
organizations will be setting up information booths which the participants will be able to explore,
and learn about community and national service opportunities available to them. We will be
offering an AmeriCorps workshop as well in which participants will be able to learn about the
program for their potential future involvement. We are not charging any fee for participation in the
conference as we wish to make it as accessible as possible to the high school students we are
inviting. With this in mind, we are also providing lunch at no charge. The Southern California
Interfaith Hunger Coalition will absorb these costs through our own expense and through private
donations.
As AmeriCorps is an important program to you, and one of your greatest achievements, I
would like to invite you to speak at our conference. We have time available at the beginning and
end of the conference, and are willing to re-arrange the days schedule to best fit your needs.
AMERICA
An appearance and talk by you to the 2,000 high school students at the conference will be
inspirational and show your support for the fight against hunger, as well as be an import and high
profile AmeriCorps event. As the national service program is a somewhat controversial issue these
days and it's future is uncertain, this event could provide the proof that the AmeriCorps program is
worthwhile and truly getting things done.
Please don't hesitate to call me if you need any more information about the Youth Anti-
Hunger Conference. I look forward to a reply and hope you will be able to attend.
Sincerely,
Rick Lupert
AmeriCorps Team Leader
INTERFAITH
GUESS?
fo
HUNGER
COALITION
2449 Hyperion Avenue
Suite 100
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (213) 913-7333
Fax: (213) 664-1725
Publications: (213) 664-1692
Dear Principal,
My name is Rick Lupert and I am a Team Leader for a local AmeriCorps project hosted at
the Interfaith Hunger Coalition. AmeriCorps is a new national service project in which individuals
have the opportunity to do service in their communities in exchange for an educational award at the
end of a ten month term of service. My team's focus is fighting hunger in Los Angeles. We have
been active this year within Los Angeles Unified School District in the following ways:
Y.A.H.C.: We have started a network of Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs on many high
school campuses throughout greater Los Angeles. (list attached)
Healthy Eating Is Fun: We have been working with Joann Zgonc of
L.A.U.S.D.s Homeless Education Project to implement a program educating 3rd
through 6th graders about healthy eating and safe food preparation which we will
be presenting at the schools within the district which have a large population of
homeless children.
School Gardens: We have worked supporting the school garden efforts at
various schools around the district, involving children and teachers participating in
the activities necessary to support a vegetable garden at their school.
The focus of our Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs is to put the energy of high school aged people
into action by giving them the structure they need to plan and put into action their own creative anti-
hunger projects. We also are acting as a support group for the clubs providing any information,
event ideas and speakers they may need as well as networking them with other Youth Anti-Hunger
Clubs throughout Los Angeles. I have enclosed with this letter the Youth Anti-Hunger Club
Startup Information Pack materials that we have been sending to students interested in starting
clubs at their schools (or making an existing club part of the Youth Anti-Hunger Club network.)
We are planning a large scale Youth Anti-Hunger Conference for April 6, 1995. It's going
to take place at the Scottish Rite Temple facility 4357 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. At this
conference we will be offering up to 1,500 high school aged people the opportunity to participate
in a series of workshops geared towards empowering them to feel that they can and must do
something about ending hunger in our local and world communities. In addition we will offer
them the opportunity to meet representatives from many different hunger fighting, and other
community service oriented organizations from throughout the nation. We will also be providing
lunch and will be giving each conference participant a Youth Anti-Hunger Conference T-shirt
donated to us by the Guess Foundation. We are not charging admission to the students; but we are
asking that they bring an item of non-perishable food which will be donated to various food banks
and pantries who will also be participating in the conference.
I am writing to ask for your schools support of our Youth Anti-Hunger Conference. These
are the ways in which you can help:
If a Youth Anti-Hunger Club has not already started at your school, find an
interested student and pass on the startup information packet.
Promote the Youth Anti-Hunger Conference on your campus.
Make the Youth Anti-Hunger Conference an official school event sanctioning
students conference participation in lieu of their regular class schedule on April 6.
(We would like to have 30 students from each high school at the conference.)
Provide transportation from your school for any students interested in attending the
conference. (You can contact your school's local City Council Person for
information about getting a free bus for this event.)
I know that most schools have such a strong commitment to having their students do
community service that it has actually become a graduation requirement that every student complete
a certain amount of community service hours. The Youth Anti-Hunger Conference and Youth Anti-
Hunger Clubs are excellent ways to get the students at your school involved and excited about
doing community service. Your help in any of the above ways (or any other way that you can
think of) would help insure that the students at your school are on the road to self-empowerment
and proactive involvement in helping to end one of the most terrible problems facing our
community.
Please confirm your support by March 1st, 1995 by contacting me at the phone number
below. Also, if you wish to speak to someone within the Los Angeles Unified School District
about who we are and what we are doing, Joann Zgonc, Homeless Education Project Coordinator,
may be contacted at (213) 625-4957. Thanks for your time and I look forward to hearing from
you.
Sincerely, Lust
Rick Lupert
(213) 913-7327 Monday - Thursday, 8 am to 4:30 pm
enclosures
Youth Anti-Hunger Club Network
(as of February 6, 1995)
School Outreached To
Student Contact
Agoura High School
Josh Pollack
B'nai Brith Girls Chapter
Alycia Seaman
Beverly Hills High School
Elisa Boren
Calabasas High School
Ellah Orevi
Chaminade
Dan Weiss
Claremont High School
Laura Fabrick
Cleveland
Jennifer Kurland
Crenshaw High School
Kali Jones
Dorsey High School
(no student contact yet)
El Camino Real High School
Kerri Kirchheimer
Fairfax High School
Rene Androtti
Granada Hills High School
Lila Kopelioff
Hamilton High School
Sarah Solomen
Harvard Westlake
Tiffany Zwicker
L.A. County High School For The Arts
Jona Rose Jaffe
Manual Arts High School
Maria Turcios
Marshall, John High School
Miriam Perez
Mira Costa
Alexis Grach
North Hollywood High School
Rachel Greenstadt
Oakwood
Rachel Hochman
Peninsula
Ido Dotan
Pomona High School
Shana Scott
Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies
Melissa Kurland
Taft, William Howard High School
Liya Brook
Van Nuys High School
Rebecca Birken
Washington High School
Michael Kyle
Wilson, Woodrow
Sandy Triana
As of this date, Harvard Westlake, Crenshaw, Marshall, and Granada Hills have registered their
clubs with us. All other student contacts have received their startup information packets. We are
beginning to outreach directly to principals at schools where we don't have student contacts. This
will enable us to start clubs at as many schools as possible.
YOUTH ANTI-HUNGER CLUB
SAMPLE CONSTITUTION
I. NAME
A. The name of the organization shall be the Youth Anti-Hunger Club (YAHC.)
II. PURPOSE
A. The purpose of the youth Anti-Hunger Club is to give students the opportunity to fight
hunger around the world and in their community. YAHC will also be used as a tool to empower
youth to affect change on a personal level.
III. MEMBERSHIP
A. All students committed to the goal and vision of the Youth Anti-Hunger Club are
welcome to join. Each member should also maintain a 2.0 Grade Point Average.
IV. GOVERNMENT
A. This club shall be led by committee. The committee will be elected by the general
membership. There will be five committee positions
V. MEETINGS
A. The Youth Anti-Hunger Club will meet every Monday at lunch.
OUR COMMITMENT IS TO FIGHT TO END HUNGER, ONE COMMUNITY AT
A TIME.
HUNGER
Youth Anti-Hunger Conference School Pre-Registration
YES, I would like to take part in Interfaith Hunger Coalition's Youth Anti-
Hunger Conference for high school aged people on April 6, 1995 at the
Scottish Rite Temple at 4357 Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. As this
is a Community Service Education oriented event I will receive credit for
8 community service/volunteer hours.
Please send me a registration brochure and more information.
Name:
Home Room:
Please return this form to:
, Room
(Teacher/Administrator)
Teacher/Administer, please contact Rick Lupert at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition, (213)
913-7327, to confirm the number of registration brochures you need. Also keep track of how
many students from your school are coming for your transportation purposes.
Why YOU should attend:
INTERFAITH
GUESS?
Meet other High School students,
HUNGER
foundation
just like you interested in ending
CRICORP SEPTED
hunger, from other parts of Los
Angeles.
Learn what you can do to help fight
hunger.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
2449 Hyperion Suite $ 108
Interfaith Hunger Coalition
COALITION
present
Y.A.H.C.
youth anti-hunger conference
Meet representatives from many
organizations who are helping to
fight hunger and learn about
volunteer opportunities for you
and/or your own campus club.
Network your Youth Anti-Hunger
HUNGER
Club with other Y.A.H.Cs in and
around Los Angeles.
Conference Schedule
8 - 9 Registration (Check in and explore
Sponsored by the Southern California
information booths)
Interfaith Hunger Coaliton and the
9:00 Introductions and Orientation
Guess Foundation
9:30 Rations Play performed by L.I.F.E.
for High School Aged People
(Love Is Feeding Everyone)
10:15 Workshop Session I
11:00 Break
11:15 Workshop Session II
April 6, 1995
12:00 Lunch (eat and check out
Scottish Rite Temple
organization booths)
4357 Wilshire Boulevard
12:45 Entertainment
Los Angeles
1:45 Workshop Session III
2:30 Keynote Speaker
3:00 Conclusion and Goodbye
It's time you did something about
3:30 Buses Leave
ending hunger in our community
Individual Registration
Conference Workshops
Who's Hungry
Name:
Learn the facts about who's hungry in our
Location
Address:
nation and how hunger may be affecting
Scottish Rite Temple
your life.
4357 Wilshire Blvd.
(at Plymouth boulevard
Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs
three blocks west of Crenshaw)
Phone#:
Meet with other people involved with YAHC
clubs at their schools, share ideas and
School:
network for joint events.
When
[ ] I do not need transportation to the
Thursday April 6, 1995
conference.
The Next Step: College Activism
Meet with people involved with
8:00 am to 3:30 pm
[ ] I need information about the
Anti-Hunger activities on college campuses
closest conference bus pick up
and find out how you can get involved.
point to me.
Who
What's Being Done
Any High School-Aged Person
[ ] I need vegetarian food for lunch.
Meet with and learn about the work that
T-Shirt Size (circle one) S M L XL
many organizations are doing to fight
hunger locally and worldwide.
Lunch
Provided at no cost to Conference
And Many Other Workshops to
Group Registration
participants. Vegetarian food will
choose from.
be available
(Bring your whole club!)
Speakers/Special Programs
To register your entire club or group of
people, please call (213) 913-7327 and
Conference Cost
ask for anyone on the Education Team.
Entertainment
1 item of nonperishable food
Please be ready to provide the following
which will be donated to Los
information:
L.I.F.E. (Love Is Feeding
Angeles area Food Banks
Everyone) will perform their
Names of all people attending.
T-Shirt Sizes of all attending.
play Rations
The number of people who need
For More Information
vegetarian food for lunch.
Key Note Speaker
Call (213) 913-7327 for additional
information or any questions you
Return to: Y.A.H.C. Registration
Elizabeth Riley, Executive
C/O: Interfaith Hunger Coalition
may have. Ask for anyone on the
Director of the Southern
Education Team
2449 Hyperion Ste. 108
California Interfaith Hunger
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Coalition
Hunger In
the U.S.
THESE ARE THE FACTS
20 million people in
the U.S. cannot afford an
adequate diet; 12 million
of these are children.
Hunger is a result of
poverty.
One out of every
four children under the
age of 12 is likely to be
hungry in California.
Hungry children are
two to three times more
likely to suffer from health
problems than well-fed
children.
An overwhelming
majority of food pantries
report that they do not
have sufficient food to
meet the needs of those
they serve.
Over 93 percent of
all food stamp house-
holds have gross incomes
that are equal to or less
than the poverty line.
Hunger hurts. all
of us.
FACT: YOU CAN
END HUNGER
Learn about and
act against the causes of
hunger.
Organize a food
drive or a fundraiser for a
food pantry near you.
Volunteer at a
food pantry or at a food
bank.
Volunteer at a
soup kitchen.
Participate in a
hunger walk or run.
Volunteer at a
hunger advocacy orga-
nization.
Shop at a certified
farmers' market.
Contact your leg-
islative officials--every
voice matters and every
voice counts.
Endorse anti-hun-
ger campaigns.
Connect with an
anti-hunger coalition in
your area.
Provided for you by the
INTERFAITH HUNGER
COALITION
2449 Hyperion Ave. Ste. 100
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: (213) 913-7333
Fax: (213) 664-1725
INTERFAITH
GUESS?
HUNGER
foundation
COALITION
NATIONAL ERICORPS A
Y.A.H.C.
youth anti-hunger conference
Empowerment
Entertainment
Workshops
T-Shirts
HUNGER
Speakers
Lunch
Networking
Opportunity
it's time you did something about ending hunger in our
community
Interfaith Hunger Coalition's Free Countywide Conference
for High School Aged People Interested In Helping to
End Hunger
Thursday, April 6, 1995
8 am to 3:30 pm
Scottish Rite Temple in Los Angeles
For more information or a registration brochure call (213) 913-7327
or contact the Youth Anti-Hunger Club at your school.
The Youth Anti-Hunger Conference is being sponsored by AmeriCorps at the Southern California
Interfaith Hunger Coalition and the GUESS? Foundation.
Youth Anti-Hunger Conference
T-Shirt Logo Contest
HUNGER
L
Do you think this logo is BORING?
WE DO TOO!
We are in search of a new, improved and unique logo! Help us, and make a
contribution towards ending hunger. Submit your creative ideas for a new Youth
Anti-Hunger logo. This is an opportunity to have the result of your talent displayed on
2,000 walking canvases!!! The winning design will be printed on 2,000 T-Shirts which
are being provided by the GUESS? Foundation, and will be distributed at the Youth
Anti-Hunger Conference in April.
Send your entries to: Y.A.H.C. Logo Contest
Interfaith Hunger Coalition
2449 Hyperion Ave. Suite 108
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Rules:
Submissions must be received by February 20,1995
Include your name, address, and phone number with your entry
One idea per student
Logo cannot be larger than 81/2 X 11, overall
Entry must be sharp, crisp and clear
Must look good in different sizes
Use of colors is fine
No photographs
All designs are judged solely on thematic uniqueness
If you have any questions call the AmeriCorps Education team at (213) 913-7327.
Youth Anti-Hunger Conference Logo Contest is being sponsored by AmeriCorps at
the Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition and by the GUESS? Foundation.
INTERFAITH
GUESS?
Foundation
AMERICORPS
HUNGER
A
COALITION
NATIONALS
SERVICE
SOME EVENT IDEAS FOR YOUR Y.A.H.C.
The ideas on this list come courtesy of the organization LIFE
(Love is Feeding Everyone). LIFE works very hard to feed the
hungry in our community by running a large food bank and also
outreaching to junior and senior high schools just like yours
with their play Rations. LIFE would love to come and perform
Rations at your school as an event for your Youth Anti Hunger
Club or for the whole school. To arrange this, call Toni Plume
at LIFE at (213) 936-0895. Or give us a call here at The
Interfaith Hunger Coalition (213) 913-7327 (Ask for anyone on
the Education team.)
Donate proceeds from a sporting event, dance or theatrical event.
Recycle soda cans and bottles and give the money to a local shelter.
Have LIFE perform Rations at your school.
Conduct a canned food drive for a local food bank.
Write letters to government officials in support of ending hunger.
See a Paramount Studios television show taping to raise money.
Adopt an agency that helps children, teenagers, or the elderly.
Have a penny drive on campus.
Call The AmeriCorps Education team at the Interfaith Hunger
Coalition for other ideas.
Use the creativeness of your club members to come up with new,
fun, and exciting event ideas!
LOS ANGELES
HUNGER
AMERICORPS A Sign
NUTRITION & EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
YACH MEETING PROMOTION
- TAKE THE FACTS THAT ARE GIVEN BELOW AND MAKE
A CREATIVE FLYER, POSTER, OR BANNER TO HYPE
PEOPLE UP ABOUT FIGHTING HUNGER AND YOUR
FIRST MEETING.
HUNGER FACTS
More then enough food is grown to feed everyone on
this planet.
Today 60,000 people will die of hunger - two thirds of
them children.
Four times more malnourished children are female
then male.
Nearly 1 in 5 people worldwide are chronically
malnourished - too hungry to lead productive lives.
The amount of money spent on weapons every
minute could feed 2,000 malnourished children for a
year.
The price of a military tank could provide classrooms
for 30,000 students.
These facts should help you see how urgent the need is for
us to fight in the anti-hunger movement. Please join the
struggle to end hunger.
R
A
T
I
O
N
S
By Barbara McCracken
students an opportunity to learn. "The
RATIONS, L.I.F.E.'s dynamic play
play teaches youth to empower them-
20out America's hunger crisis is pres-
selves. It allows them to look at the
ently touring L.A. area high schools. A
situation as it is, offers them hope and
vital part of L.I.F.E.'s educational
teaches them how to help," says Gotay.
program, RATIONS is helping to edu-
cate high school students about the
Positive Reaction
misconceptions of hunger and how they
can help those in need.
As part of the RATIONS experience, teachers are
encouraged to integrate hunger issues into their
curriculum. Recommended as-
signments include having students
jot down their existing thoughts
about hunger and reviewing these
thoughts after watching the play.
Response to the play has been
very positive--in many cases
motivating students to organize
their own in-school programs.
This, of course, is what
RATIONS is all about.
Students Respond
After watching the play, stu-
Bonnie Toman
dents from South Pasadena High
organized and collected 3,000
Originally conceived in 1988 by screenwriter
cans of food in a door-to-door effort.
Susan Black, and currently directed by Joel Ash-
er, the play features a series of heart-warming
vignettes performed by local actors.
Grant High School in Van Nuys also got in-
volved, assigning separate projects to each grade
level. Most notable was the freshman class, who
Personalizing the Hungry
chose to collect baby food--always a much-needed
item.
Touching on the human aspect of the hunger
crisis, RATIONS succeeds by delivering its
L.I.F.E.'s director of educational programs,
message on a very personal level. By showing
Toni Plume, says she hopes to bring RATIONS to
who the hungry are and how they got that way, it
as many area high schools as possible. She also
helps students deal with their own feelings about
hopes to get the program partially funded by
hunger.
grants to develop classroom materials and modi-
fied versions of the play for both elementary and
Actor Will Gotay says the cast:members are all
college-level audiences.
very supportive, knowing they are giving the
Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition
AmeriCorps Project Fact Sheet
The Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition and the U.S. Department of Agriculture are
playing an exciting part in the first year of the President's national service program that awards an
educational scholarships in exchange for community service.
What is the AmeriCorps Program?
The AmeriCorps Program is President Clinton's national service initiative to achieve direct results in
addressing the nation's critical human service, environmental, public safety, and educational needs at
the community level. AmeriCorps provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to
serve their country in organized efforts, fostering citizen responsibility and building communities.
Americans age 17 or older can make a substantial commitment to their country and earn education
awards for college or vocational training in return.
The AmeriCorps motto is "Getting Things Done". As one of only five USDA-sponsored projects
nationwide focusing on anti-hunger, nutrition and empowerment, 40 AmeriCorps members will have the
opportunity to make a strong and direct impact in the communities they serve.
What will corps members do?
Teams of eight AmeriCorps members, under the direction of a Team Leader, will work with the
Interfaith Hunger Coalition and organizations such as the Los Angeles Conservation Corps, Common
Ground, Southland Farmers's Market and the LA Homeless Services Authority on projects listed below.
Training about hunger issues and service activities will be provided.
Work to inform homeless, low income, working poor and people with AIDS about housing, food,
medical assistance, and other needed services.
Set up a school-based garden project and healthy eating promotion for kids.
Work on homeless assistance programs, and provide information and services to homeless people
living in Encampments.
Set up a community garden, start up a farmer's market and work on micro-enterprise development.
Develop a promotion program for the School Breakfast program and the Summer Food Service
Program.
What's expected from an AmeriCorps member?
You have to be seventeen years of age or older to apply.
You have to be able to give a ten-month, full-time commitment to the program.
You have to have some previous experience and demonstrated commitment to community service.
INTERFAITH HUNGER COALITION
Program Highlights
IHC educates the community on hunger and poverty issues through the quarterly
newsletter, Bread and Justice (4,000 copies quarterly); through public service announcements,
television and radio appearances; and public speaking efforts.
How to Get Food and Money: the People's Guide to Welfare, Health and Other Services
(250,000 copies yearly), the comprehensive guide to government benefits available to low-
income persons, explains federal, state and local programs in plain English and Spanish, in
Los Angeles County and statewide.
The Food Stamp Outreach campaign provides technical assistance, community-based,
grassroots outreach and education, direct client assistance, a pro-active media campaign, and
advocacy, targeting underserved sectors including homeless persons and seniors.
The School Breakfast and Summer Food Outreach campaign targets children missing out
on vital nutrition programs, through the Child Nutrition Hotline, (800) Eat-N-Gro, and
through outreach efforts including bus cards, mass mailings, and through a network of
community-based organizations, schools, parents, advocates and other community leaders
interested in improving child nutrition.
IHC's "LA Anti-Hunger and Empowerment Project", as part of AmeriCorps, the President's
national service initiative, will employ 40 people to improve and expand the use of Federal
anti-hunger programs and increase access to nutrition information. Teams will also
establish farmers markets, community gardening and micro-enterprise development projects.
IHC provides up-to-the-minute information on local, state and federal hunger and poverty-
related legislation and policies, and supports an active body of advocates to be mobilized
rapidly and effectively.
IHC works with UCLA planners on community development and food security planning as
a follow-up to Seeds of Change, the ground-breaking study on food access issues in Los
Angeles.
"Food Assets" serves as a fully operational food pantry serving the Echo Park/Silverlake
community, as well as a training center for food pantry operators in the greater Los Angeles
area.
IHC provides vital know-how for groups wanting to start a food pantry with workshops and
consultations and with publications: How You Can Start and Maintain a Food Pantry (2,000
copies yearly) and How to Run a Food Drive (1,500 copies yearly).
The Directory to Los Angeles County Food Pantries and Food Banks (3,000 copies yearly) lists
food programs available to help the hungry throughout Los Angeles County.
The Well Being guide provides information on government benefits, emergency food," and
other resources for women and children who have tested HIV positive.
Interfaith Hunger Coalition
2449 Hyperion, #100
Los Angeles, CA. 90027
(213) 913-7333
INTERFAITH
Southern California Interfaith Hunger Coalition
HUNGER
HUNGER
HUNGER
COALITION
& EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Dear High School Student,
Food is a basic need. Did you know that in our state almost 30% of the entire population of
children under 12 do not have enough to eat on a daily basis? They just don't have enough food.
In Southern California alone 15 percent of our population (about 1.3 million people) exist under
the poverty level. Some of them live on the streets, in shelters, some have places to live, but they
all are faced with the crisis of not having enough money to buy enough food for themselves and
their families. It's nothing less than a crisis.
Does this information upset you? Does it make you wonder why in our nation, arguably
the richest nation in the world, we can't meet the basic need of feeding everyone? Well if so why
not take the situation into your own hands and do something about it? We're the Southern
California Interfaith Hunger Coalition and we exist to fight hunger in Los Angeles. We would like
to recruit you to do the same.
If you feel that it's about time that the students at your school did something about this
then read on! We are starting a network of Youth Anti-Hunger Clubs (YAHCs) at high schools in
the Los Angeles area and would like your help in starting one at your school. Enclosed with this
letter are the following things:
Instruction Sheet on how to start a YAHC.
A sample club constitution for you to use.
Facts about Hunger and Poverty in Los Angeles (basic information sheet)
Information about the upcoming Youth Anti-Hunger Conference.
We at Interfaith Hunger Coalition will help you in every way that we can with:
Coming up with events ideas
Organizing Food Drives at your school
Getting speakers to come talk to your club meetings about hunger issues
Providing information you can use and distribute about hunger and nutrition
Networking your schools club with YAHCs at other schools
Provide General Support and Answer Questions
If you have any questions, feel free to call me Monday through Friday 8 am - 4:30 pm at
(213) 913-7326. You as a Los Angeles youth have a lot of power to make things happen in our
community and this is one way that you can take advantage of that power. By working together
with other people in your school and community, and with other Anti-Hunger groups, WE WILL
END HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY!
Sincerely,
Rick Lupert
AmeriCorps Team Leader
YOUTH ANTI-HUNGER CLUB (YAHC)
These are a few instructions in order to help a YAHC get started at your school.
*** BEFORE ANY ATTEMPT TO START THE CLUB, CHECK WITH SCHOOL ***
ADMINISTRATION FOR SPECIFIC RULES, REGULATIONS, AND/OR GUIDELINES
ABOUT CLUBS IN YOUR SCHOOL.
I. Spark interest at your school:
1. Talk to others about the idea.
A. friends at school
B. teachers at school
C. other students at school
2. Empower others to feel they can make a difference in the hunger situation through:
A. announcements
B. bulletins
II. Find a sponsor from the staff at your school. (This will enable you to have an
official club on campus, have a meeting place, and organize club-related events.)
III. Register your club with Interfaith Hunger Coalition (don't worry, it's free.)
1. Call (213) 913-7327 and ask for the AmeriCorps Education Team.
2. Let us know that your school has started a YAHC.
A. We can keep you updated on regional anti-hunger events
B. We can network you with YAHCs at other schools
C. We can better act as a resource for event ideas, volunteer opportunities, etc
IV. The first meeting.
1. For the first meeting publicize:
A. the date
B. the time
C. the meeting place
2. At the first meeting:
A. Brainstorm ideas about focal points, foodraisers*, and other events.
V. Use the AmeriCorps Education Team at the Interfaith Hunger Coalition (IHC)
as a resource! (We're here to end hunger too so we want to give you as much help as you
need!)
VI. Promote your club:
1. announcements
2. posters
3. bulletins
VII. END HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY!
*Foodraisers are like fundraisers except they do not raise funds they raise food for the hungry.
INTERFAITH
LOS
AN GELES
HUNGER
HUNGER
COALITION
NUTRITION & EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
2449 Hyperion Avenue
Suite 100
Los Angeles. CA 90027
Phone: (213) 913-7333
Fax: (213) 664-1725
Publications: (213) 664-1692
Facts about Hunger and Poverty in Los Angeles
The Poverty level for a family of four is now $14,800.
Over 1.3 million children, 1,371,858 kids under 12 in California,
are hungry or at risk of hunger, which is 27.8% of the children in
the state. 647,014 children under 12 in California are hungry, or
13.1%.*
The County of Los Angeles 1990 Poverty Rate: 1,308,255 people
out of a population of 8,682,078, or 15.1%.
Poverty and hunger figures are highly related. The 1.3 million
persons under. the poverty level in Los Angeles would likely face
hunger at least once a month.
Over 150,000 people were homeless in Los Angeles County in
1990. 36,037 were children whose families are homeless. Homeless
youth counted for 10,000: children who are under 18 and on their
own.
The Census Bureau poverty report for 1993, showed poverty in
the U.S. rose to 15.1% of the population last year, up from 14.8% in
1992. A total of 39.3 million people lived below the 1993 poverty
level. The current rate is the highest since the 15.2% in 1983.
According to Tufts University, the revised 1992 national child
poverty rate is 22.3%
18.2 percent of Californians live below the poverty level
*
According to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC).
(8/94)
CONTIONAL ERICORPS A STATE