Washington, DC – Increasing access to healthier food and to federal nutrition assistance programs could help stem growing food insecurity in the Latino community, where nearly one in five people (19.6%) have limited or no access to nutritious food each year, according to a new report released today by the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), the largest national Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization in the U.S. The report, Sin Provecho: Latinos and Food Insecurity, was released at a news conference today at the Carlos Rosario International School.

“Lack of access to resources is forcing far too many Latino families into choices no one should have to make, such as between having a roof over their heads or putting food on the table. A lack of affordable, nutritious food also has devastating health consequences, such as increasing hunger and obesity, affecting not only the Latino community but the well-being of our entire nation,” stated Janet Murguía, NCLR President and CEO.

Among the report’s findings:

• Healthy foods may be out of reach for many low-income and Latino communities. One study found that predominantly Hispanic communities had 38% less fresh fruit and vegetable retailers than areas with smaller Hispanic populations.
• Many eligible Latinos are not participating in food assistance programs. Data suggest that more than three million eligible Hispanics are not participating in the Food Stamp Program. Lack of culturally- and linguistically-appropriate information and confusion about eligibility rules are common reasons why Latinos are not participating at higher levels.
• Many Latino legal immigrants and U.S. citizens are restricted or deterred from accessing food stamps. Numerous legal immigrants are barred from participating in the Food Stamp Program. Furthermore, due to fear and confusion about program restrictions, U.S. citizen children with immigrant parents are far less likely than U.S. citizen children with a citizen parent to participate in the Food Stamp Program.

In the report’s recommendations, NCLR urges Congress and the Administration to work on strengthening and increasing participation in food assistance programs to reduce food insecurity for all Americans, including Latinos, such as by eliminating the remaining food stamp restrictions on legal immigrants and making the programs more culturally- and linguistically-appropriate and more focused on access to nutritious food.

“The Food Stamp Program is the nation’s leading defense against hunger, but only 51% of eligible Latinos are accessing the program. We need to do more to make sure that all eligible people are connected to the program. As the new Congress prepares to take up reauthorization of the Farm Bill, it is an opportunity to address the problem of hunger. We can strengthen the Food Stamp Program by increasing monthly benefits, supporting outreach efforts, and removing arbitrary bars to eligibility,” said Ellen Vollinger, Legal Director for the Food Research and Action Center.

The report also recommends more outreach to, and more involvement by, community-based organizations serving the Latino community which are increasingly providing a food safety net to the families they work with and serve.

“In addition to supporting working parents and strengthening educational attainment, child care and school-age programs such as those at CentroNía can play a significant role in ensuring that young children and youth have access to well-balanced, nutritious meals on a daily basis. We provide two meals and a snack that not only meet USDA nutrition guidelines but also are culturally appropriate. Additionally, parents receive emergency food support and information on how to provide their families with more nutritious meals on limited budgets,” said Beatriz Otero, Executive Director of CentroNía, a multicultural learning center in Washington, DC.

“By involving communities as well as government in ensuring that all families have access to healthy food, we can prevent diseases that stem from nutrition deficiencies, lower health care costs, and improve the education outcomes of all children,” concluded Murguía.