Improving Access to Healthy Food

Healthy food access is a focus area at the PolicyLink Center for Health and Place. Launched in 2007, the Center incorporates research and actions into policy initiatives to ensure that everyone—especially low-income people and people of color—can live, work, and play in healthy neighborhoods.  

For decades, low-income urban and rural communities have faced limited opportunities to purchase healthy food. Often without cars or convenient public transportation options, low-income residents in these areas must rely for much of their shopping on expensive, fatty, processed foods sold at convenience/corner stores. But there are signs of change. Community advocates, policymakers, and other stakeholders are advancing a growing number of innovative programs and policies that are turning the tide, providing access to affordable healthy foods. 

To improve access to healthy food in underserved low-income communities and communities of color, PolicyLink is Lifting Up What Works™ -- highlighting community innovations so other communities can benefit from these models, insights, and strategies; engaging in local, state, and federal advocacy campaigns to help communities transform food deserts into food oases; conducting research to make the case for change and maximize impact; and supporting community-driven advocacy and implementation efforts.