Research Identifies Barriers to Food Access and Practical Strategies to Strengthen Resident Well-Being
PORTLAND, ME – Evernorth has released a new white paper, Supporting Resident Food Security: Barriers & Best Practices for Free Food Access in Maine’s Affordable Housing Communities, offering research-based recommendations to help affordable housing providers improve food access and strengthen resident well-being. The report was developed by Evernorth’s Connections program through interviews with housing professionals, geographic analysis, and on-the-ground experience supporting residents across Maine.
As food insecurity continues to rise across Maine, the report finds that transportation challenges, social stigma, limited pantry hours, and staffing and infrastructure constraints all make it difficult for many people living in affordable housing to access available food resources. Rather than focusing exclusively on food availability, the research studies why resources are often out of reach and identifies practical, resident-centered approaches that practitioners can use to reduce those barriers.
The report was authored by Allie Leveillee, Connections Engagement Coordinator at Evernorth. The Evernorth Connections program was created to improve the quality of life for people living in affordable housing by strengthening community ties, expanding staff capacity, investing in workforce development, and advancing resident-centered housing practices, including research and advocacy.
“The Connections program exists to strengthen communities by supporting residents, expanding the expertise and capacity of housing professionals, and sharing what we learn,” said Nancy Owens, President of Evernorth. “This white paper is an example of that commitment, combining research with the practical insights of on-the-ground staff to create tools and solutions that can have a real impact on people, and can be applied beyond our own footprint.”
The white paper combines geographic information system (GIS) mapping with interviews conducted at ten affordable housing communities across Maine to better understand peoples’ experiences accessing free food resources. The research identifies four primary barriers to food security – transportation, social factors, pantry availability, and limited organizational capacity – and recommends strategies such as bringing food closer to residents, strengthening on-site food access, building community partnerships, and investing in staff capacity and communication.
“Housing professionals see every day how barriers outside the home affect people’s ability to build flourishing, healthy lives,” said Lindsay Thrall, Evernorth’s Connections Program Manager. “By listening to these practitioners and staff, centering the lived experience of the people facing these barriers, and examining the resources and landscapes that impact the issue, we hope this white paper provides practical ideas that other organizations can adopt to improve food security for all people living in affordable housing communities.”
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Evernorth is a nonprofit organization serving the low- and moderate-income people of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont with affordable housing and community investments. Evernorth has raised and deployed over $1.6 billion in equity capital for affordable housing and built more than 17,000 affordable homes and apartments for low- and moderate-income people across northern New England. www.evernorthus.org
