Healthy Affordable Food for All (HAFA) is a coalition of advocates, service providers and local food activists working to increase access to healthy, affordable food in all D.C. neighborhoods.
Food access in D.C.
Every day in the District of Columbia, one out of eight households struggles against hunger. D.C. residents need three things to be healthy: money to consistently buy a nourishing diet; knowledge on how to make nutritious food choices; and healthy, affordable food outlets in their neighborhoods.
Our work is driven by the disconnect between what D.C. residents need and what they have:
- Many D.C. residents lack ready access to a major supermarket. Supermarkets are a primary source of moderately-priced fresh, nutritious foods. Only two chain supermarkets operate east of the Anacostia River.an area with more than 140,000 people. Wards 2 and 3 have 12 chain supermarkets.one for about every 11,900 residents.
- Farmers' markets.another source of fresh foods.are also unequally distributed. Only two of the 21 farmers' markets in the District are east of the Anacostia.
- Rising food costs are squeezing low and middle-income family budgets. Nationwide, food costs have increased 7.9% in the last two years. Dairy products now cost 14.8% more and fruits and vegetables 10.3% more. Meanwhile, wages for non-managerial workers have increased only about 5%.
- Inadequate access to nutritious foods can lead to obesity and other health problems. Obesity and related health problems are more likely when most sources of food nearby are convenience stores and fast food restaurants. Research also suggests that people who cannot afford to buy enough food to consistently meet their basic needs may adopt unhealthful eating patterns.for example, eating high-calorie foods because they stave off the sense of hunger or cost less than fresh fruits and vegetables. Over time, lack of sufficient food can lead to physiological changes that cause the body to store more calories as fat.
Check out the Healthy Food, Healthy Communities report for more details on the state of community food security in D.C.
HAFA projects
DC Food Finder
The DC Food Finder will increase awareness of existing food resources in the city and ensure that residents can stretch their food dollar as far as possible to get through a tough time.
Fresh Food Opportunities Bank
Along with the Fair Budget Coalition, HAFA has also been working to encourage the city to fund a Fresh Food Opportunities Bank. This source of funding would enhance knowledge of federal nutrition programs; increase capacity for healthy food at corner stores, non-profit feeding programs, farmers. markets, afterschool programs, and community gardens; fund a supermarket development study; and expand nutrition education efforts.
Join us
If you are interested in learning more about our work or would like to attend our meetings, please contact us.