Sophia Lenarz-Coy

Where are the trusted places in the community that people can feel empowered and have dignity accessing that food? And so- For me, that is a huge group that historically has been left out of some of the problem solving in this space. That's really, really critical. And then building on that, it's a lot of partnerships.

Where are the trusted places in the community that people can feel empowered and have dignity accessing that food? And so- For me, that is a huge group that historically has been left out of some of the problem solving in this space. That's really, really critical. And then building on that, it's a lot of partnerships.

It's partnerships with nonprofits, partnerships with government organizations, right? Thinking about the federal programs, the state programs, but then it's also, you know, corporate partners, right? whether they're funding the work or even thinking about grocery stores and grocery store access. Right. You have a neighborhood where there is no grocery store.

It's partnerships with nonprofits, partnerships with government organizations, right? Thinking about the federal programs, the state programs, but then it's also, you know, corporate partners, right? whether they're funding the work or even thinking about grocery stores and grocery store access. Right. You have a neighborhood where there is no grocery store.

You're going to have higher rates of food insecurity. And so there's just a lot of different sectors that need to solve it together.

You're going to have higher rates of food insecurity. And so there's just a lot of different sectors that need to solve it together.

It's been really interesting because the COVID pandemic put a spotlight on food insecurity in a really interesting way. And so while needs certainly went up, the other thing that happened in kind of 2020, 2021 is there were a lot of emergency relief programs that were established.

It's been really interesting because the COVID pandemic put a spotlight on food insecurity in a really interesting way. And so while needs certainly went up, the other thing that happened in kind of 2020, 2021 is there were a lot of emergency relief programs that were established.

So whether it were things like the child income tax credit, or there was a pandemic emergency SNAP, where the minimum SNAP, benefit SNAP, which used to be called food support, right, food stamps, that really increased. And so while things were tough in 2020 and 2021, there were tremendous federal support programs that really buffered a lot of low-income households.

So whether it were things like the child income tax credit, or there was a pandemic emergency SNAP, where the minimum SNAP, benefit SNAP, which used to be called food support, right, food stamps, that really increased. And so while things were tough in 2020 and 2021, there were tremendous federal support programs that really buffered a lot of low-income households.

And many of those expired in the end of 2022. And so what we saw was almost kind of, some people even called it a hunger cliff, right? Where all these programs started to expire kind of one after the other. And the thing that is often, I think, a little bit of a misconception about food insecurity is sometimes people think it's for folks who don't have jobs, right? right?

And many of those expired in the end of 2022. And so what we saw was almost kind of, some people even called it a hunger cliff, right? Where all these programs started to expire kind of one after the other. And the thing that is often, I think, a little bit of a misconception about food insecurity is sometimes people think it's for folks who don't have jobs, right? right?

So that if you're experiencing food insecurity, you must not be working. And what's actually very, very common is for households to have two working people, right? But not having enough because of the pressures of rent, of transportation, of healthcare costs, right? And so... This idea that, oh, there's low unemployment, it must be that there is not food insecurity as an issue.

So that if you're experiencing food insecurity, you must not be working. And what's actually very, very common is for households to have two working people, right? But not having enough because of the pressures of rent, of transportation, of healthcare costs, right? And so... This idea that, oh, there's low unemployment, it must be that there is not food insecurity as an issue.

That's a common linkage people make. But the wage growth just has not been there for folks who are working minimum wage jobs to be able to afford the foods that they need to get through.

That's a common linkage people make. But the wage growth just has not been there for folks who are working minimum wage jobs to be able to afford the foods that they need to get through.

Yes, that is the question. And so I think one thing that's really positive, especially if we zoom into kind of the Minnesota situation, is in the last legislative session, there were some really big policy wins that have good impacts on these issues. So things like we do now have a statewide child income tax credit.

Yes, that is the question. And so I think one thing that's really positive, especially if we zoom into kind of the Minnesota situation, is in the last legislative session, there were some really big policy wins that have good impacts on these issues. So things like we do now have a statewide child income tax credit.

And I think some people might say, like, I don't understand what linkage there is between a child income tax credit and hunger or food insecurity. We saw at the federal level when that was instituted, the number one biggest household expense was food. So for folks with kids, you spend a lot of money on food. And so if you can get additional resources, you're gonna spend that on food.

And I think some people might say, like, I don't understand what linkage there is between a child income tax credit and hunger or food insecurity. We saw at the federal level when that was instituted, the number one biggest household expense was food. So for folks with kids, you spend a lot of money on food. And so if you can get additional resources, you're gonna spend that on food.