PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia needs a permanent authority to address food insecurity. That’s the conclusion of a report released Tuesday by city council’s food and nutrition security task force.
The task force started its work a year and a half ago, a different era when it comes to food accessibility.
The report comes out as food prices continue their steady rise and more than 30,000 Philadelphians have lost federal SNAP benefits. Council president Kenyatta Johnson, who created the task force, said that makes this an auspicious moment.
“The report represents a shared vision for how Philadelphia can strengthen food and nutrition security through greater coordination, partnership and accountability,” he said.
To that end, the task force recommended the creation of an Office of Food and Nutrition Security. Johnson said he’d introduce legislation to put it to a referendum when council returns in the fall.
More immediately, task force member Loree Jones-Brown of Philabundance said the city has to stabilize food benefits.
“We have to make sure we can reach people, to make sure they know how to requalify for SNAP. So I do think over time we’re going to see better resources for people, more people re-enrolled in SNAP and more food out where people need it,” she said.
