The City of Cincinnati has awarded an $850,000 grant to Cincinnati Children’s and several local nonprofits to expand access to healthy food in neighborhoods affected by gun violence. The effort will build food resource hubs and urban farming sites to support residents most at risk.
The funding, issued through the city’s human services Impact Award program, focuses on survivors of gun violence, youth in the justice system and local public school students. City officials say expanding access to healthy food is a key step in building neighborhood stability and supporting long-term community safety.
“Food is the most fundamental thing we have, and lack of access to food very rapidly leads to deteriorating communities,” City Manager Sheryl Long said in a statement. “While it may not be obvious, there’s a direct connection between experiencing food insecurity and experiencing gun violence – either as a victim or a perpetrator.”
Food access helps communities thrive
Cincinnati Children’s will lead the work through its System to Achieve Food Equity network, known as SAFE, in partnership with Achieving Change Together for Cincinnati, or ACT for Cincy. ACT for Cincy is the city’s violence prevention strategy that takes a public health approach, focusing on reducing harm by addressing the conditions that contribute to violence.
Neighborhood hubs will open in Avondale, East Price Hill and the West End. Each site will provide food, links to support services and space for community gathering. The initiative will also expand urban farms expected to grow tens of thousands of pounds of produce and create paid work opportunities for residents…