Austin Healthy Food Access Initiative. Improving Access to Good and Affordable Food
On March 3, 2016, City Council passed Resolution 20160303-020, which directed the City Manager to 1) develop recommendations for improving access to fresh, healthy and affordable food, and 2) provide a status update on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) enrollment, as well as recommendations to improve those efforts. The Resolution also requested a fiscal note for consideration as part of the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 budget planning process. The goal of this initiative is twofold: 1) remove barriers so as to increase the amount of food retail and farming available in low-income communities, and 2) provide food insecure community members with additional purchasing power, so that nutritious food can be affordable within their budget constraints. Making an investment to address food insecurity would positively impact diet-related health outcomes in these high-risk communities, provide long-term healthcare cost savings, and support the City’s affordability goals.