Norwalk Community Food Report

January 2020

Prepared and Presented by: Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact Norwalk Health Department Additional Data Analysis provided by: CT Food Bank

Research Team:

Director of Center for Social Impact: Melissa Quan

Research Coordinator: Jonathan Delgado

Student Researcher: Mahammad Camara ‘19

Editors: Sophia Gourgiotis Luckario Alcide Eileen Michaud

Research Partners:

Norwalk Health Department Health Educator: Theresa Argondezzi

Food Access Project Coordinator: Pamela Flausino Melo da Silva

Additional Data Resources Made Available by CT Food Bank: Jamie Foster, PhD

Acknowledgments

Center for Social Impact 4 Healthy for Life Project 5 Project Overview 6 How To Use This Report 7 Norwalk Food Agencies 8

Norwalk Maps And Tables Food Insecurity 9

Populations Children 12 Immigrant (Foreign Born) Population 14 Seniors 16 Single Parent/Guardian 18

Services Disability 20 Free & Reduced-Price Lunch 22 SNAP & WIC 24

Social Determinants Educational Attainment 28 Housing Burden 32 Transportation 34 Unemployment 36

Key Findings 38 Taking Action: Norwalk Food Access Initiative 39

Appendix A: Census Boundary Reference Map 41

Appendix B: Population Density Table 42 Appendix C: SNAP & WIC Retailers 43 Appendix D: SNAP & WIC Information 45 Appendix E: Data Source Tables 46 Glossary 47 References 48

TABLE OF Contents

Page 3 of 50 Center for Social Impact The Center for Social Impact was founded in 2006 with the goal of integrating the Jesuit, Catholic mission of Fairfield University, which includes a commitment to service and social justice, through the academic work of teaching and research. The Center for Social Impact has three major programs:

1. Community-Engaged Learning (formerly known as Service Learning)

2. Community-Engaged Research

3. Humanitarian Action

These programs integrate multi-disciplinary academic research, engaged teaching, experiential learning, events and other initiatives that address real world challenges and call committed individuals to action towards a more just and equitable world. Community-Engaged Research (CEnR) is a collaborative enterprise between academic researchers (faculty, staff, and students) and community members that both synthesize multiple sources of knowledge, through its promotion of diverse methods of discovery and dissemination of new knowledge, and embraces social action and social change as outcomes (Strand et al., 2003). Fairfield University’s CEnR focuses on engaging faculty and students in interdisciplinary research with local non-profit agencies, governments, and schools in the Greater Bridgeport Area and State of Connecticut while also supporting select regional, national, and international projects. The CEnR team at Fairfield University develops and manages community-engaged research projects, organizes learning and knowledge-sharing opportunities for community-engaged researchers, and provides strategic data analytics support for local and regional community- based organizations.

Page 4 of 50 Healthy for Life Project The Healthy for Life Project (H4LP) is a coalition of organizations, agencies, and community members in the Greater Norwalk area whose mission is to reduce and prevent obesity and chronic disease by promoting healthy eating and physical activity. Convened by the Norwalk Health Department, the H4LP originated from a comprehensive community health assessment and improvement plan conducted in 2012 by the Health Department and Norwalk Hospital. In the years since the project began, initiatives have included: creating community and school- based nutrition education programs, promoting physical activity in the school day, highlighting healthy restaurants and markets, disseminating information about farmers markets, advocating for strong school district wellness policies and practices, and encouraging walking and community walking groups. H4LP members, however, have long recognized the need to address another one of the greatest drivers of obesity and chronic disease: food insecurity. The inability of our residents to access healthy food - because of cost, transportation challenges, or other barriers - impacts their ability to follow nutrition recommendations and is detrimental to their overall health and development (Gundersen et al., 2018). Therefore, the H4LP is working to engage stakeholders to better understand the strengths and gaps in the food system in Norwalk, and create a plan to address areas for improvement. For more information about the Norwalk Food Access Initiative, see page 40. Fairfield University's Center for Social Impact has been an important partner in this effort, given its experience in working with communities to gather and visualize community food access data to help quantify and frame this aspect of community health.

Page 5 of 50 Project Overview Together, the H4LP and Center for Social Impact have collaborated on a project to display population distributions in relation to food insecurity in Norwalk, Connecticut. The goal for this study was to generate maps that would illustrate correlations and patterns between specific demographic identifiers in order to better understand and interpret needs and assets in Norwalk. To identify the areas being (un)met, we used Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping to visually display specific variables based on data from the 2017 American Community Survey (ACS) census data (Manson et al., 2017) and other sources. Each map helps to identify populations at risk for food insecurity, as well as programs and services offered to assist them.

Research Goals The research goals of this project were to:

1. Quantify community needs and assets related to food security, in addition to broader social factors within Norwalk, CT, with specific attention to those that potentially contribute to food insecurity. 2. Identify the food insecurity rate within Norwalk, CT and identify the various populations at higher-risk. 3. Use well-established and clear research methods to map census data. 4. Generate maps that the local community and related stakeholders can use to visually understand and thus, better combat food insecurity within Norwalk, CT.

Research Questions To achieve these research goals, the project explored the following questions: Populations & Programs - Which populations are at highest risk for food insecurity? - Which programs are available and easily accessible to Norwalk residents? Households that Receive SNAP & WIC Benefits - Do SNAP & WIC recipients have easy access SNAP & WIC retailers? - Are there an adequate number of retailers for the number of households who receive SNAP & WIC benefits? - Are the locations of these food agencies accessible for the Norwalk residents who need them most? Free & Reduced Price Lunch - Who uses free and reduced-price lunch and where in Norwalk do they live? Transportation - Does Norwalk offer adequate public transportation for people living near poverty or experiencing food insecurity?

Page 6 of 50 How to Read the Maps Maps in this report include the following attributes, indicated in the Legend with each map. A scale bar is also provided to use as a reference for distance. Norwalk Streets: Indicates the location of Norwalk streets. Census Tracts/Neighborhoods: The thick black boundary separates Norwalk’s census tracts, which have been matched to their respective neighborhoods, with help from Norwalk ACTS. Each neighborhood is home to an average of 4000 residents. On average, the Census Tracts contain three block groups. Block Groups: The thinner boundary line that separates Norwalk block groups that make up the census tracts. Each block group is home to an average of 1265 residents. Primary Roads: Indicates location of interstate highways, main roads, state roads and federal/US roads in Norwalk. Each type is illustrated in a different color. SNAP & WIC: Food retailers that accept SNAP or both SNAP & WIC. Norwalk Agencies: Known food agencies located in Norwalk and serving Norwalk’s residents. Each one is illustrated in one of three colors based on services provided: pantry services, meal services, or both. Individual Variable Breakdowns: Each variable has a color pattern within the block group boundaries that corresponds with a population percentage range outlined in the legend. This allows you to see the variance within each neighborhood.

How to Read the Data Tables The neighborhood data tables include the following columns: Neighborhood: Neighborhood name for the census tract from which the data is collected. Total: Total amount of possible units in that neighborhood dependent on the "universe" of the variable. Sometimes this includes all residents in a neighborhood, but sometimes it does not. For example, when measuring the proportion of children in a neighborhood, all residents are included in the "total," but when measuring the number of people in a neighborhood with a bachelor’s degree or higher, only residents older than age 25 are included in the "total." N: The number of units that meet the criteria of the variable calculated. In the first example above (the percentage of children), N would be anyone younger than age 18, and in the second example (education), N would be anyone with a bachelor’s degree or higher. %: The proportion of units that meet the criteria of that variable divided by the total possible units for the neighborhood.

Page 7 of 50 Norwalk Food Agencies These Food Agencies had been identified as offering pantry or meal services, as of December 2019. They vary in capacity, hours of operation, and type of services offered. However, for the purposes of this report, they are mapped simply by location. The ID number listed for each agency corresponds with the number on their location on the map.

ID Name Address Pantry Meals Neighborhood 346 Main Avenue, Ste 3A 1 Filling in the Blanks Norwalk, CT 06851 ✔ Various St. Vincent DePaul Food Pantry at 203 East Avenue 2 St. Thomas the Apostle Church Norwalk, CT 06855 ✔ East Norwalk Care Unit of Macedonia 39 West Avenue 3 Ministries, Inc Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ Golden Hill 622 West Avenue 4 Norwalk Gurudwara Sahib Norwalk, CT 06850 ✔ Hospital Hill 650 West Avenue 5 Triangle Center Norwalk, CT 06850 ✔ Hospital Hill Raymond Street 6 Bridgeport Rescue Mission Norwalk,CT 06854 ✔ South Norwalk 13 Day Street Norwalk,CT 7 Bridgeport Rescue Mission 06854 ✔ South Norwalk 4 Merritt Street 8 Open Door Shelter Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ ✔ South Norwalk 76 South Main Street 9 Person-2-Person Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ South Norwalk 14 Byington Place 10 Norwalk Salvation Army Norwalk, CT 06850 ✔ Spring Hill 261 Ely Avenue Norwalk, 11 Bridgeport Rescue Mission CT 06854 ✔ Springwood 188 Richards Avenue 12 Norwalk Community College Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ West Norwalk 216 Scribner Avenue 13 St. Matthews Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ West Norwalk 146 Main Street 14 New Life Church Norwalk, CT 06851 ✔ Woods Pond 49 Meadow Street 15 Bridgeport Rescue Mission Norwalk, CT 06854 ✔ Woodward

Page 8 of 50 Food Insecurity Food insecurity can be defined as the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food for an active, healthy life. In 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that 14.3 million US households, about 11% of the US population, were food insecure (USDA, 2019). The USDA categorizes food insecurity into two levels: low food security and very low food security. Low food security means that a person reports reduced quality, variety, or desirability of diet, whereas people with very low food security report multiple indications of disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake (Jensen et al., 2018). Both levels of food insecurity can have significant impacts on a person’s well-being. A lack of money or other resources can cause people to eat less, experience poor nutrition, and increase stress. It can impact family and social interactions, cause worry and anxiety, and create challenges in preventing and managing chronic diseases (Frongillo, 2019). In a study published in The Journal of Nutrition, adults living in food-insecure households were at an approximately 50% higher risk of developing diabetes, and those with diabetes had inadequate glycemic control (blood glucose) (Seligman et al., 2010, p. 306). Households receiving help from food agencies must make difficult choices to meet basic needs. According to a 2014 study by Feeding America, 66% of respondents reported having to choose between food and medical care, and 69% reported having to choose between paying utilities and buying food. In the same report, households reported having to use coping strategies to help stretch their food budgets. For example, 79% of respondents reported purchasing inexpensive, unhealthy food, and 53% received help from friends (Feeding America, 2020). While assistance programs, like SNAP and WIC, are available to supplement families’ food budget, some people rely mainly or only on food pantries, which often provide free food with fewer or no restrictions (Yibin Liu et al., 2019, p. 1703). According to the same 2018 USDA report, families living below 185% of the federal poverty level were three times more likely to be food-insecure than the national average (USDA, 2019). In addition to household income, food insecurity rates may vary according to a combination of many factors, including race, ethnicity, employment, and disability.

Page 9 of 50 Food Insecurity Rate As discussed, many factors might converge to influence food insecurity. Most of the maps and data tables in this report will present data on single, individual factors. But first, this section will look at a variable called the Food Insecurity Rate, which uses an evidence-based method to combine multiple variables and calculate an estimate of how many people in a particular neighborhood are food insecure. Map the Meal Gap 2018: A Report on County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food in the United States in 2016 identified specific, publicly available information that is associated with food insecurity, including unemployment, poverty, home ownership, and other demographic data, and developed the methodology to combine these factors to determine a food insecurity rate (Gundersen et al., 2018). For this report, the CT Food Bank made available the following data that used this established methodology to calculate the food insecurity rate for neighborhoods in Norwalk. The unemployment rate was taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and all the other information came from 5-year averages from the American Community Survey.

Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % In total, 11% of Norwalk residents are Broad River 3132 304 9.7 estimated to be food insecure based Brookside 5895 472 8 on this algorithm. The Woodward Cranbury 4027 346 8.6 neighborhood had the highest East Norwalk 4003 592 14.8 proportion of Food Insecurity Golden Hill 6049 811 13.4 (20.2%), based on the equation Hospital Hill 7902 1027 13 established by Gunderson et al., 2018. Marvin Beach 3981 362 9.1 Norwalk Center 1822 335 18.4 The Hospital Hill neighborhood had Oak Hills 3203 330 10.3 the highest total number of food Rowayton 3441 182 5.3 insecure residents (1027). These Silvermine 1604 132 8.2 findings should be considered when South Norwalk 3249 504 15.5 looking at all related variables as well Spring Hill 3396 353 10.4 as the placement of food agencies, Springwood 3752 645 17.2 food retailers, and transportation Strawberry Hill 2534 144 5.7 options. The Green 2940 218 7.4 This table’s data is derived from the West Main 4192 608 14.5 2018 Map the Meal Gap study. The West Norwalk 4894 338 6.9 total column represents the total West Rocks 4802 403 8.4 population in each neighborhood. Wolfpit 4229 351 8.3 The N column represents the number Woods Pond 5027 442 8.8 of people estimated to be food Woodward 3856 779 20.2 insecure and the percent column Total 87,930 11 states the proportion of the total 9678 population that meets that criteria.

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Page 11 of 50 Children Children are among the most vulnerable members of our community, and food insecurity can have an injurious impact on their growth, development, and overall health. For example, in a school setting, food insecure children are at higher risk for lower performance, both academically and socially when compared to children who are food-secure (Gundersen et al., 2018). Some of the most common factors associated with food insecurity among children are poverty, caregivers’ mental and physical health, living with a disabled adult, parents’ marital status, and childcare arrangements (Gundersen et al., 2014). According to Map the Meal Gap, 2019, in Connecticut, 15.5% (115,240) of children experienced food insecurity at some point during the year. The same report estimates that 1 in 5 food-insecure children live in households that do not qualify for government food programs (Gundersen et al., 2018).

Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % In Norwalk, children make up Broad River 3155 590 18.70 approximately 21% of the population. The Brookside 6259 1497 23.92 neighborhoods with the greatest total Cranbury 900 population proportion of children include 3960 22.73 Brookside, Rowayton, Springwood and East Norwalk 3997 590 14.76 Woodward; all of which are located in Golden Hill 6380 1395 21.87 south Norwalk and comprised of Hospital Hill 7663 1749 22.82 approximately one quarter of the Marvin Beach 4169 794 19.05 population within each section. Hospital Norwalk Center 2106 409 19.42 Hill has the highest number of children, Oak Hills 2993 617 20.61 1749 in total, with a population proportion Rowayton 3387 798 23.56 of 22.82%. Springwood, Woodward, and Silvermine 1568 274 17.47 Hospital Hill have some of the highest South Norwalk 3350 650 19.40 levels of food insecurity in the city, which Spring Hill 3316 664 20.02 may indicate a higher proportionate Springwood 4152 1341 32.30 impact of food insecurity on the youth in Strawberry Hill 2505 518 20.68 these neighborhoods. The map indicates The Green 3052 560 18.35 several SNAP and WIC locations as well as West Main 4276 832 19.46 food service agencies just on the outskirts of these neighborhoods, demonstrating West Norwalk 4746 1087 22.90 relatively accessible locations of food West Rocks 4893 788 16.10 assistance benefits in these areas; Wolfpit 3982 751 18.86 however, more information about other Woods Pond 4868 867 17.81 nutrition services for children (e.g., Woodward 3760 953 25.35 backpack programs) is needed. Total 88,537 18,624 21.04 This table uses data from the 2017 American Community Survey. The total column represents the total population in every neighborhood. The N column represents the number of people that are seventeen years old or younger and the percent column states the proportion of the total population that meets that criteria.

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Page 13 of 50 Immigrant (Foreign Born) Population Approximately 44 million immigrants live in the United States (13.4% of the overall population). In Norwalk, 28.4% of the population is foreign-born (U.S. Census Bureau, 2010). Immigrants come to the United States spurred by different motivations and under a variety of circumstances, but immigrants, particularly those with lower incomes or fewer social resources, language or literacy difficulties, different cultural food preferences, and poor knowledge of available food resources, may be at higher risk for food insecurity (Rodriguez, 2015, p. 131). Undocumented immigrants who live and work in the United States are among the most vulnerable population in our country, with a food-insecurity rate twice that of the overall US population (Bread for the World, 2016). The CUNY Urban Policy Institute found that immigrant populations may be unaware of or reluctant to participate in available assistance programs. The report provides key suggestions for improving access to food benefits for immigrants, including supporting social connections, providing appropriate language services, and ensuring the cultural competence of staff (CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, 2018). Their recommendations are specific to New York City, but may be applicable in other settings, including Norwalk. Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % Broad River 3155 356 11.28 According to the 2017 American Community Survey, more than a quarter Brookside 6259 1758 28.09 of people living in Norwalk are foreign- Cranbury 3960 462 11.67 born. In Norwalk, the Springwood East Norwalk 3997 1246 31.17 neighborhood has the highest proportion Golden Hill 6380 2437 38.20 of foreign-born residents (42.73%), and Hospital Hill 7663 2924 38.16 Hospital Hill has the highest total number Marvin Beach 4169 981 23.53 (2924), which represents 38.16% of the Norwalk Center 2106 798 37.89 population in that neighborhood. Oak Hills 2993 1014 33.88 Rowayton 3387 368 10.87 Other neighborhoods in which foreign- born residents comprise more than 35% of Silvermine 1568 157 10.01 their population include Golden Hill South Norwalk 3350 1089 32.51 (38.2%) and Norwalk Center (37.89%). Spring Hill 3316 1125 33.93 Springwood 4152 1774 42.73 This table uses data from the 2017 Strawberry Hill 2505 421 16.81 American Community Survey. The total The Green 3052 750 24.57 column in this table represents the total West Main 4276 1418 33.16 population in every neighborhood. The N West Norwalk 4746 1193 25.14 column represents the number of people that are foreign born and the percent West Rocks 4893 1115 22.79 column states the proportion of the total Wolfpit 3982 675 16.95 population that meets that criteria. Woods Pond 4868 1165 23.93 Woodward 3760 1310 34.84 Total 88,537 24,536 27.71

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Page 15 of 50 Seniors In The State of Senior Hunger in America 2017: An Annual Report, 7.7% of seniors nationwide were reported to be food insecure (5.5 million seniors), and 3.1% were very low food secure (2.2 million seniors). Based on the data presented, seniors who fall below the poverty line and those who are racial or ethnic minorities are at higher risk. Moreover, the report suggested that divorcees or separated seniors experience higher rates of food insecurity as opposed to married seniors, and that non-veterans also are more likely to be food insecure when compared with veterans. The report also showed an alarming increase of food insecurity in seniors since 2001 (45% increase for food insecure and 121% for low food secure) (Gundersen et al., 2019). Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % Broad River 3155 538 17.05 About 14% of Norwalk residents are Brookside 6259 991 seniors. The neighborhoods in Norwalk 15.83 with the highest proportion of seniors are Cranbury 3960 740 18.69 located in Cranbury, Rowayton, East Norwalk 3997 603 15.09 Silvermine, and Wolfpit, where at least Golden Hill 6380 623 9.76 18% of the population is over 65 years of Hospital Hill 7663 908 11.85 age. All four of these neighborhoods have Marvin Beach 4169 662 15.88 some of the lowest food insecure rates in Norwalk Center 2106 202 9.59 the city, measuring below 9%. Oak Hills 2993 486 16.24 Rowayton 3387 733 21.64 As seen in the map, the senior population is spread out around the city, but generally Silvermine 1568 325 20.73 concentrated in pockets surrounding the South Norwalk 3350 174 5.19 outskirts of Norwalk, where food security Spring Hill 3316 328 9.89 is relatively high. Springwood 4152 304 7.32 Strawberry Hill 2505 444 17.72 This table uses data from the 2017 The Green 3052 472 15.47 American Community Survey. The total West Main 4276 452 10.57 column in this table represents the total West Norwalk 4746 714 15.04 population in every neighborhood. The N West Rocks 4893 827 column represents the number of people 16.90 that are over the age of sixty-five and the Wolfpit 3982 745 18.71 percent column states the proportion of Woods Pond 4868 873 17.93 the total population that meets the Woodward 3760 413 10.98 criteria. Total 88,537 12,557 14.18

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Page 17 of 50 Single Parent/Guardian Households led by a single parent also appear to be at higher risk of food insecurity. According to Household Food Security in the United States, 2017, 30.3% of single-parent households headed by a woman and 19.7% of single-parent households headed by a man were food insecure, compared with 4.3% of households led by two parents (Coleman-Jensen, 2018). Norwalk Findings Of the single parent/guardian households in Norwalk, single mother households are far more prevalent than single father households, comprising at least 20% of the households in Golden Hill, Norwalk Center, South Norwalk, and Springwood. These neighborhoods are concentrated in the center of the city, where there are very high rates of food insecurity. A significant number of SNAP and WIC retailers and food service agencies exist in these areas, but these opportunities must be evaluated with regard to how well they serve the needs and schedules of single mother households. This table uses data from the 2017 American Community Survey. The total column in this table represents the total number of family households (those with their own related children under the age of 18 living in the home) in every neighborhood. The N columns represent the number of single parent/guardian, single father and single mother households respectively. The percent columns states the proportion of total family households for that each for of those criteria.

All Single Male Female Parent/Guardian Neighborhood Total HHs N= % N= % N= % Broad River 907 109 12.02 36 3.97 73 8.05 Brookside 1598 117 7.32 68 4.26 49 3.07 Cranbury 1052 48 4.56 5 0.48 43 4.09 East Norwalk 947 158 16.68 76 8.03 82 8.66 Golden Hill 1567 487 31.08 113 7.21 374 23.87 Hospital Hill 1852 410 22.14 44 2.38 366 19.76 Marvin Beach 1057 83 7.85 11 1.04 72 6.81 Norwalk Center 405 143 35.31 29 7.16 114 28.15 Oak Hills 806 107 13.28 0 0.00 107 13.28 Rowayton 912 51 5.59 10 1.10 41 4.50 Silvermine 471 32 6.79 0 0.00 32 6.79 South Norwalk 639 260 40.69 81 12.68 179 28.01 Spring Hill 892 186 20.85 26 2.91 160 17.94 Springwood 968 219 22.62 25 2.58 194 20.04 Strawberry Hill 671 104 15.50 29 4.32 75 11.18 The Green 840 100 11.90 20 2.38 80 9.52 West Main 854 186 21.78 25 2.93 161 18.85 West Norwalk 1309 209 15.97 75 5.73 134 10.24 West Rocks 1208 89 7.37 23 1.90 66 5.46 Wolfpit 1080 56 5.19 0 0.00 56 5.19 Woods Pond 1260 65 5.16 0 0.00 65 5.16 Woodward 944 208 22.03 26 2.75 182 19.28

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Page 19 of 50 Disability Disability is among the socioeconomic characteristics associated with food insecurity. For example, according to research from the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service, in the United States, the rates of very low food security and low food security in households where at least one family member is not working due to a disability are 16% and 17%, respectively. Among households with at least one adult who reported a disability, but was not out of the workforce due to that disability, the rates of very low food security and low insecurity were both 11%. The rates in those same categories for adults who are not disabled are 3% and 6%. Neighborhood Total N= % Norwalk Findings Broad River 1209 216 17.87 In five Norwalk neighborhoods, Brookside 2070 259 12.51 approximately 20% of households include at Cranbury 1416 271 19.14 least one person who reported having a East Norwalk 1557 308 19.78 disability: Cranbury, East Norwalk, Hospital Golden Hill 2242 338 15.08 Hill, Oak Hills, The Green, and Springwood. Hospital Hill 3028 585 19.32 The proportion is highest in Springwood Marvin Beach 1685 301 17.86 (31%). Some of the highest food insecurity Norwalk Center 1038 169 16.28 rates in Norwalk are located in East Norwalk, Oak Hills 1123 239 21.28 Hospital Hill, and Springwood, and although Rowayton 1394 139 9.97 several SNAP and WIC retailers are located Silvermine 613 91 14.85 nearby, few are located directly within the South Norwalk 1448 164 11.33 three neighborhoods. This could indicate a Spring Hill 1142 193 16.90 potential barrier to accessibility for the Springwood 1093 342 31.29 disabled residents of these high food insecure Strawberry Hill 958 174 18.16 neighborhoods. The Green 1178 239 20.29 This table uses data from the 2017 American West Main 1761 331 18.80 Community Survey. The total column in this West Norwalk 1671 242 14.48 table represents the total number of West Rocks 2116 327 15.45 households in every neighborhood. The N Wolfpit 1712 283 16.53 column represents the number of households Woods Pond 1709 237 13.87 that have one or more persons living in the Woodward 1222 157 12.85 household with a disability and the percent Totals 33,385 5605 16.79 column states the proportion of the total households that meet that criteria.

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Page 21 of 50 Free & Reduced-Price Lunch Eligibility for free and reduced-price lunch (FRP) through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program is a commonly used indicator of income in a school community. Children are eligible for free lunch if their household income falls below 130% of the federal poverty level and for reduced-price lunch if their income is between 130% and 185% of that level. For example, in the 2016-2017 school year, a household of three people would qualify for free school meals if they earned $26,208 or less, and a family of three earning up to $37,296 would qualify for reduced-price school meals. Importantly, the federal poverty level is set at the same level across the continental United States, regardless of the higher price of housing, childcare, and other costs of living in regions such as Fairfield County. Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % In the 2018-19 school year, 59% of students Broad River 262 100 38.20 in Norwalk Public Schools qualified for FRP Brookside 731 328 44.90 lunch. This figure has increased steadily the Cranbury 350 51 14.60 past decade. In the 2013-14 school year, the East Norwalk 525 355 67.60 rate was significantly lower (45.6%). The Golden Hill 1018 817 80.30 steady increase over the last 5 years could Hospital Hill 1055 688 65.20 indicate increased financial need in the Marvin Beach 444 197 44.40 community and more challenges to accessing Norwalk Center 376 297 79.00 healthy food (Norwalk ACTS). Oak Hills 521 393 75.40 Rowayton 342 31 9.10 More than 80% of the school-age residents Silvermine 109 23 21.10 living in Golden Hill, South Norwalk, South Norwalk 363 314 86.50 Springwood, and Woodward received FRP Spring Hill 429 242 56.40 lunch benefits last year. In addition, Hospital Springwood 882 767 87.00 Hill shows a high number of children Strawberry Hill 329 120 36.50 (approximately 65%) who qualify for FRP The Green 422 190 45.00 lunch. Many SNAP and WIC retailers, as well West Main 703 515 73.30 as food agencies, are located in South West Norwalk 431 145 33.60 Norwalk and Springwood, which could mean West Rocks 359 134 37.30 that families in these neighborhoods have Wolfpit 438 121 27.60 access to food resources. However, the other Woods Pond 482 174 36.10 three neighborhoods do not seem to have as Woodward 780 648 83.10 many resources. More research is needed to Total 11,351 6650 58.59 determine if existing resources meet families' needs.

This table uses data from the US Department of Agriculture’s National School Lunch Program, compiled by Norwalk ACTS. The total column in this table represents the total number of students in each neighborhood. The N column represents the number of students that receive free or reduced lunch and the percent column states the proportion of the total number of students that meet that criteria.

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Page 23 of 50 SNAP & WIC The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program are two federal assistance programs that expand access to healthy food for community members making less than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level. SNAP helps eligible individuals and families afford the cost of food at supermarkets, grocery stores and farmers’ markets. The program helps supplement individuals’ food budget and helps them move toward self-sufficiency (U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service, 2019). WIC is available to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, as well as infants and children up to 5 years old. WIC provides clients with nutrition education and counseling, breastfeeding promotion and support, nutritious foods, and help in accessing community resources. In the Greater Norwalk community, the WIC program is located at the Norwalk Health Department. As of 2019, approximately 1,500 individuals are enrolled in the Norwalk program. We chose to use SNAP & WIC as a variable in order to best determine which populations rely on SNAP & WIC and to determine how accessible the program is to these populations (Food and Nutrition Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture; Connecticut State Department of Public Health).

Norwalk Findings In five neighborhoods in Norwalk—Hospital Hill, Norwalk Center, South Norwalk, Springwood, and Woodward – SNAP-eligible households represent at least one third of the population. This means that at least one third of the households in these 5 neighborhoods are determined to earn less than 185% of the federal poverty level. These neighborhoods also show some of the highest rates food insecurity in Norwalk (Gunderson et al., 2018). The data show that SNAP benefits are utilized in these five neighborhoods, but the numbers suggest that a significant number of eligible individuals are not yet enrolled. The two data sources measure slightly different things (i.e., individuals vs. households), so more analysis is needed to determine how many additional households could be receiving benefits. Also, community outreach and engagement could help providers better understand the barriers to SNAP enrollment. For more information about SNAP, WIC, and how to enroll, see page 46.

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Page 25 of 50 Households Receiving SNAP→ Neighborhood Total N= % Broad River 1209 61 5.05 This table uses data from the 2017 American Brookside 2070 126 6.09 Community Survey. The total column in this table Cranbury 1416 7 0.49 represents the total number of households in each East Norwalk 1557 96 6.17 neighborhood. The N column represents the Golden Hill 2242 412 18.38 number of households that received SNAP in the Hospital Hill 3028 343 11.33 past twelve months, and the percent column Marvin Beach 1685 52 3.09 states the proportion of the total number of Norwalk Center 1038 137 13.20 households that meets that criteria. Oak Hills 1123 86 7.66 Rowayton 1394 39 2.80 Silvermine 613 17 2.77 South Norwalk 1448 236 16.30 Spring Hill 1142 36 3.15 Neighborhood Total N= % Springwood 1093 191 17.47 Broad River 3141 326 10.38 Strawberry Hill 958 43 4.49 Brookside 6235 933 14.96 The Green 1178 56 4.75 Cranbury 3960 301 7.60 West Main 1761 198 11.24 East Norwalk 3997 1110 27.77 West Norwalk 1671 47 2.81 Golden Hill 6343 1814 28.60 West Rocks 2116 73 3.45 Hospital Hill 7511 2547 33.91 Wolfpit 1712 45 2.63 Marvin Beach 4169 991 23.77 Woods Pond 1709 109 6.38 Norwalk Center 2072 722 34.85 Woodward 1222 252 20.62 Oak Hills 2974 742 24.95 Total 33,385 2662 7.97 Rowayton 3387 321 9.48 Silvermine 1568 88 5.61 ←SNAP-Eligible Individuals South Norwalk 3337 1454 43.57 This table uses data from the 2017 American Spring Hill 3316 482 14.54 Community Survey. The total column in this Springwood 4145 1834 44.25 table represents the total population for Strawberry Hill 2505 276 11.02 whom poverty status is determined in each The Green 3052 413 13.53 neighborhood. The N column represents the West Main 4259 1384 32.50 number of people in each neighborhood that West Norwalk 4737 584 12.33 are living at or below 185% of the federal West Rocks 4742 274 5.78 poverty line and therefore, eligible to receive Wolfpit 3982 493 12.38 SNAP benefits. The percent column states the Woods Pond 4790 682 14.24 proportion of the total population that meets Woodward 3741 1768 47.26 that criteria. Total 87,963 19,539 22.21

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Page 27 of 50 Educational Attainment The level of educational attainment in a household can have an impact on food security. For example, the US Department of Agriculture Economic Research Service reported that among all households where the highest level of educational attainment is less than a high school diploma, 10% were very low food secure, compared with 7% of households where at least one member had a high school degree, 6% with some college, and 2% with college or more. The rates of low food security in these groups are 15%, 10%, 9%, and 3%, respectively. Norwalk Findings At least half of the eligible population has a bachelor's degree or higher in Broad River, Cranbury, Rowayton, Silvermine, and Wolfpit neighborhoods, which are all located on the perimeter of the city and have food insecurity rates well below 10%. Meanwhile, some of the neighborhoods where at least 20% of the population has a high school diploma or less, are located in Golden Hill, Norwalk Center, Springwood, and Woodward, which have some of the highest rates of food insecurity. In comparing the maps with this data, a connection may be drawn between educational attainment, geographic location, and neighborhood levels of food insecurity.

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Neighborhood Total N= % Persons with Bachelor’s Broad River 2379 1286 54.06 Brookside 4376 1793 40.97 Degree or Higher→ Cranbury 2785 1509 54.18 East Norwalk 2944 1077 36.58 This table uses data from the 2017 American Golden Hill 4170 908 21.77 Community Survey. The total column in this table Hospital Hill 5261 1712 32.54 represents the total population of every Marvin Beach 3155 1516 48.05 neighborhood that is over the age of 25. The N Norwalk Center 1543 633 41.02 column represents the number of people that are Oak Hills 2167 860 39.69 over 25 and have a bachelor's degree or higher, Rowayton 2457 1835 74.68 and the percent column states the proportion of Silvermine 1182 815 68.95 the total population that meets that criteria. South Norwalk 2240 1050 46.88 Spring Hill 2309 722 31.27 Springwood 2271 332 14.62 Strawberry Hill 1837 843 45.89 The Green 2286 950 41.56 Neighborhood Total N= % West Main 3113 1091 35.05 Broad River 2379 56 2.35 West Norwalk 3335 1589 47.65 Brookside 4376 534 12.20 West Rocks 3815 1780 46.66 Cranbury 2785 108 3.88 Wolfpit 2836 1418 50.00 East Norwalk 2944 454 15.42 Woods Pond 3448 1324 38.40 Golden Hill 4170 1205 28.90 Woodward 2318 533 22.99 Hospital Hill 5261 795 15.11 Total 62,227 25,576 41.10 Marvin Beach 3155 244 7.73 Norwalk Center 1543 317 20.54 Oak Hills 2167 375 17.31 ←Persons with High School Rowayton 2457 30 1.22 Diploma or Less Silvermine 1182 44 3.72 South Norwalk 2240 335 14.96 This table uses data from the 2017 American Spring Hill 2309 337 14.60 Community Survey. The total column in this Springwood 2271 543 23.91 table represents the total population of every Strawberry Hill 1837 139 7.57 neighborhood in Norwalk that is over the age of The Green 2286 212 9.27 25. The N column represents the number of West Main 3113 529 16.99 West Norwalk 3335 205 6.15 people that are over 25 and have a high school West Rocks 3815 275 7.21 diploma or less, and the percent column states Wolfpit 2836 203 7.16 the proportion of the total population that Woods Pond 3448 254 7.37 meets that criteria. Woodward 2318 687 29.64

Total 62,227 7881 12.66

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Page 31 of 50 Housing Burden The US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) defines cost-burdened families as families who pay more than 30% of their income for housing, and severe rent burden as households that spend more than 50% of household income on rent (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, 2019). According to the 2018 National Low Income Housing Coalition report, in order to afford a two- bedroom apartment at fair market rent and utilities without paying more than 30% of income, a household must earn $4,403 monthly. The Stamford-Norwalk region is considered to be one of the most expensive areas in which to live, which means that lower income households may have difficulty affording housing in this area. For example, a household in this region must earn an hourly wage of $36.25 for full-time work to afford two-bedroom at HUD’s Fair Market Rent (FMR) while spending no more than 30% of their income on housing costs (National Low Income Housing Coalition, 2019). Put differently, an individual earning a minimum wage must work 101 hours per week to be able to afford a two- bedroom rental home at FMR. When low-income families are forced to spend such a high percentage of their income on housing, the food budget may be among the first expenses they cut (Waxman, 2017). Median Neighborhood Gross Total N= % Norwalk Findings Rent These data suggest that almost 28% of Broad River $ 1,570 184 45 24.46 Norwalk renters experience severe rent Brookside $ 1,421 372 166 44.62 burden, paying more than 50% of income Cranbury $ 2,669 98 31 31.63 on rent. The burdened population in the East Norwalk $ 1,351 1042 252 24.18 following neighborhoods make up at least Golden Hill $ 1,366 1332 290 21.77 35% of their renters: Brookside, Hospital Hospital Hill $ 1,536 1774 647 36.47 Hill, Marvin Beach, Wolfpit, Woods Pond, Marvin Beach $ 1,969 535 241 45.05 and Woodward. Among these, only Norwalk Center $ 1,455 947 256 27.03 Hospital Hill and Woodward Oak Hills $ 1,534 488 139 28.48 neighborhoods have high food insecurity Rowayton $ 2,516 294 67 22.79 rates (according to the Gunderson et al. Silvermine $ 3,104 72 10 13.89 calculation), but we must examine how South Norwalk $ 1,736 1081 292 27.01 the housing burden impacts all Spring Hill $ 1,951 441 84 19.05 households’ ability to access nutritious, Springwood $ 1,251 712 144 20.22 affordable food and whether food Strawberry Hill $ 1,399 162 51 31.48 The Green $ 1,423 335 58 17.31 agencies and retailers are located in West Main $ 1,440 1117 230 20.59 convenient areas to best serve rent- West Norwalk $ 1,886 247 15 6.07 burdened populations in all West Rocks $ 1,989 666 156 23.42 neighborhoods. Wolfpit $ 1,851 619 222 35.86 This table uses data from the 2017 Woods Pond $ 1,399 259 95 36.68 American Community Survey. The median Woodward $ 1,418 723 287 39.70 gross rent column represents the center Total 13,500 3778 27.99 value of all the rent values collected for each neighborhood. The total column represents the total number of renter-occupied housing units. The N column represents the number of units where 50% or more of income was spent on rent, and the percent column states the proportion of the total households that meets that criteria. Page 32 of 50

Page 33 of 50 Transportation Transportation is one of the pillars for a healthy community. It affects businesses, health care services, educational institutions and the community-at-large. This pillar can be of particular importance when it comes to food insecurity. An efficient transportation system can improve access to healthy food choices, while a poor transportation system can limit the access to supermarkets, farmers’ markets and other sources of affordable, healthy foods. Based on the 2018 Data Haven Community Wellbeing Survey, 79% of Norwalk residents had reported that they drive themselves as their primary means of transportation to work, to school and other places, while 5% stated their primary means of transportation is public bus system, and another 5% listed the train or railroad. Approximately 75% of respondents strongly or somewhat agreed that stores, banks and markets are within walking distance to their homes (Data Haven Community Wellbeing Survey, 2018). Although this data indicate that a large portion of Norwalkers access to transportation and food retailers, some in the community still face difficulty or inconvenience accessing food from those sources. The Norwalk Transit District is the primary public transportation system within Norwalk (Norwalk Transit, 2019). The Norwalk Transit District operates public bus and shuttle service seven days a week, which consists of 17 lines running Monday to Friday, 9 on Saturdays, and 3 on Sundays. In 2018, the City of Norwalk introduced Weels2U, a free on-demand shuttle service that provides an alternative to accessing downtown Thursday to Saturday from 5 pm until 12 am and Sundays from 12 pm until 9 pm. In addition to these transit options, Norwalk also has Dispatch-A- Ride/Norwalk ADA, which assists seniors and people with disabilities with transportation within ¾ mile of the Norwalk Transit Line (Norwalk Transit, 2019). In addition to Norwalk Transit, Norwalk Senior Center offers door-to-door wheelchair accessible transportation to grocery stores and VA hospitals every first and third Monday each month at a low cost; this program is available to seniors over 60 years old (Norwalk Transit, 2019). Norwalk Findings While Norwalk offers some transportation for seniors, residents with disabilities, and others at risk of food insecurity, we include transportation as a variable in this report to determine which populations rely on public transportation and whether Norwalk’s Transit Line correlates with SNAP and WIC retailers and food agencies. Most of the SNAP and WIC retailers and food service agencies are located on a public transit route, which is beneficial for the residents of Norwalk who rely on public transportation to reach these locations within the city. The neighborhoods that are significantly affected by poverty and food insecurity, namely those areas in the center of Norwalk, are serviced by public transit systems including the 10-20 Westport Road Shuttle, the CT Avenue Shuttle, and Wheels Route 11. Transportation and distance-related accessibility is an important factor to consider when improving the food insecure community's access to food services.

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Page 35 of 50 Unemployment In the United States, the prevalence of food insecurity among the unemployed is 19% for very low food secure and 23% for low food secure. For comparison, in households where at least one person is working full time, 3% are very low food secure and 6% are low food secure. Importantly, the economic status of the individual or household is one of the key factors in determining whether the food insecurity rate is going to be low or high (USDA, 2019). Norwalk Findings Neighborhood Total N= % Broad River 2003 194 9.69 The rates of unemployment in Norwalk are Brookside 3523 342 9.71 highest in Woodward (18.36%) and Golden Cranbury 2303 185 8.03 Hill (11.07%), with other areas of the city East Norwalk 2525 233 9.23 showing rates of unemployment over 9%, including Broad River, Brookside, East Golden Hill 3931 435 11.07 Norwalk, Hospital Hill, South Norwalk, Hospital Hill 4521 433 9.58 Spring Hill, Springwood, and West Marvin Beach 2342 117 5.00 Norwalk. The levels of food insecurity in Norwalk Center 1310 113 8.63 these neighborhoods range from 6.9% in Oak Hills 1746 131 7.50 West Norwalk to 20.2% in Woodward, Rowayton 1596 38 2.38 demonstrating an indeterminate Silvermine 917 56 6.11 relationship between food insecurity and South Norwalk 2216 207 9.34 unemployment, yet one that is likely a Spring Hill 2231 220 9.86 positive correlative relationship. Springwood 2133 210 9.85 Strawberry Hill 1434 23 1.60 This table uses data from the 2017 The Green 1979 65 3.28 American Community Survey. The total West Main 2742 176 6.42 column in this table represents the total West Norwalk 2711 254 9.37 number of civilians over the age of sixteen West Rocks 3072 134 4.36 in each neighborhood. The N column Wolfpit 2334 95 4.07 represents the number of people in each neighborhood that are unemployed. The Woods Pond 2829 155 5.48 percent column states the proportion of Woodward 2277 418 18.36 total civilians that meet that criteria. Totals 52,675 4234 8.04

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Page 37 of 50 Key Findings The Norwalk Health Department’s Healthy for Life Project team, in collaboration with Fairfield University’s Center for Social Impact, seeks to learn more about how neighborhoods in Norwalk may be impacted by food insecurity. Furthermore, the results of this study will help us determine how these groups could be better served by food agencies, including SNAP and WIC retailers, food pantries, and meal programs. Some Norwalk neighborhoods with high rates of food insecurity include East Norwalk, Hospital Hill, Norwalk Center, South Norwalk, Springwood, West Main, and Woodward, with food insecurity rates ranging from 13% in Hospital Hill to 20.2% in Woodward. These neighborhoods are clustered in the central, southern region of Norwalk where the population density is generally much higher than the perimeter areas of the city. As noted throughout this report, there is overlap between food insecurity and several important demographic factors in Norwalk: 1. Children: –Hospital Hill, Springwood, and Woodward neighborhoods have higher rates of food insecurity, higher proportions of children, and very high rates of children on free and reduced price lunch. Taken together, these data indicate that children are likely to be affected by food insecurity in these neighborhoods and food resources for children and families could have a significant impact if used in these neighborhoods. 2. Immigrants: The neighborhoods with the highest proportions of foreign-born residents (Golden Hill, Hospital Hill, Norwalk Center, Springwood, and West Main) also have high rates of neighborhood food insecurity. It will be important to learn more about how we can make food agencies in these neighborhoods more accessible to immigrant communities (geographically, culturally, etc.) 3. Educational Attainment: A higher proportion of college-educated residents live in the perimeter neighborhoods of Norwalk, which overlaps with the neighborhoods that have higher food security. Conversely, in the central and southern parts of the city, where a higher proportion of residents have a high school degree or less, rates of food insecurity are significantly higher. This indicates a correlation between educational status, geographic location, and food insecurity. 4. Single-Parent Households: The highest percentages of single-parent households with children are located in Golden Hill, Norwalk Center, South Norwalk, and Springwood, all of which are neighborhoods with higher rates of food insecurity. This correlation highlights an important group in our community facing food insecurity. More research is needed to learn how well local food agencies serve these households with single incomes and children in the home. 5. Location of SNAP and WIC: Retailers and food agencies do seem to be located in and around neighborhoods with higher food insecurity rates and areas where more community members are eligible for these programs. However, more research is needed to determine how helpful these programs perform for community members and where there are gaps or areas for improvement, including increasing the availability of healthy food options and increasing enrollment in these programs among the eligible population.

Page 38 of 50 Taking Action: Norwalk Food Access Initiative The Healthy for Life Project is working to help all Norwalkers access and eat healthy and delicious food. To do this, we must address the complex interaction and challenges of food access and healthy eating. In Norwalk, community members, city officials, business leaders, community- based organizations, educators, and other stakeholders often work individually on separate pieces of this puzzle. This work is so valuable to the community. However, we can achieve an even bigger impact when we align our efforts, move toward common goals, and use data to make decisions. Therefore, the Healthy for Life Project formed the Norwalk Food Access Initiative, a coalition working together to help every person in Norwalk access healthy, fresh, and affordable food. Previous assessments, including the 2016 Greater Norwalk Community Health Improvement Plan, identified food security as an important need in Norwalk. However, this Norwalk Community Food Report helps us to understand the issue in a more detailed, strategic way. Data and community engagement are an essential piece of our work. With the continued partnership of Fairfield University, the Food Access Initiative hopes to build on this report by capturing our client’s voices to better understand their needs. The Food Access Initiative of the Healthy for Life Project launched in Spring 2019, with a large convening of 31 agencies. For the remainder of 2019, focusing first on improving the food system for community members who rely on charitable food experiences, the group: ● Analyzed the food system in Norwalk.

● Prioritized two broad areas for improvement: o Increasing the availability of healthy options for these community members. o Increasing education and knowledge about healthy food options for clients, staff, and donors

● Drafted action plans with specific strategies to address those priority areas in 2020.

● Developed a Guide to Accessing Food in Norwalk, which lists pantries and meal services in Norwalk. The guide is available in English, French Creole, Portuguese, and Spanish and can be accessed on the Healthy for Life Project’s website under Food Access. (www.healthyforlifeproject.org)

Page 39 of 50 Food Access Initiative Members

● American Heart ● Food Rescue ● Open Door Shelter Association ● Maritime Odyssey ● Person-2-Person ● Americares Preschool ● Riverbrook Regional ● Bridgeport Rescue ● Norwalk Community YMCA Mission College ● Salvation Army of ● Campbell’s Healthy ● Norwalk Community Norwalk Communities Health Center ● Stepping Stones ● CIFC Greater Norwalk ● Norwalk Grows Museum ● The Alliance HeadStart ● Norwalk Health ● The Community Action ● City of Norwalk Department Agency of Western ● End Hunger CT! ● Norwalk Housing Connecticut ● Fairfield University Authority ● Norwalk Office of Early ● UCONN ● Family & Children’s Childhood ● United Way of Coastal Agency ● Norwalk Public Schools Fairfield ● Filling in the Blanks ● Nuvance – Norwalk ● Wholesome Wave ● Food Access for Hospital Families

If you are interested in learning more about our initiative please contact:

Pamela Silva Norwalk Food Access Project Coordinator [email protected]

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Appendix A: Census Boundary Reference Map

Neighborhood Census Tract Broad River 43000 Brookside 43900 Cranbury 42500 East Norwalk 44200 Golden Hill 44000 Hospital Hill 43800 Marvin Beach 44300 Norwalk Center 43700 Oak Hills 43200 Rowayton 44600 Silvermine 42900 South Norwalk 44100 Spring Hill 43300 Springwood 44500 Strawberry Hill 43500 The Green 43600 West Main 43400 West Norwalk 43100 West Rocks 42700 Wolfpit 42600 Woods Pond 42800 Woodward 44400

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Appendix B: Population Density Table

Population Density Neighborhood Total Broad River 3155 Brookside 6259 Cranbury 3960 East Norwalk 3997 Golden Hill 6380 Hospital Hill 7663 Marvin Beach 4169 Norwalk Center 2106 Oak Hills 2993 Rowayton 3387 Silvermine 1568 South Norwalk 3350 Spring Hill 3316 Springwood 4152 Strawberry Hill 2505 The Green 3052 West Main 4276 West Norwalk 4746 West Rocks 4893 Wolfpit 3982 Woods Pond 4868 Woodward 3760

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Appendix C: SNAP & WIC Retailers

Retailer ADDRESS SNAP WIC 06850 A Taste Of Philippines 55 Wall St, Ste 1 ✓ Cibao Deli & Grocery 39 Harbor Ave ✓ City Supermarket 717 West Ave ✓ ✓ CVS Pharmacy 1149 696 West Ave ✓ ✓ J & M Variety 520 West Ave ✓ Norwalk Halal Meat Market 60 Connecticut Ave ✓ Super 7 Food Market 109 New Canaan Ave ✓ Tom's Deli & Market 60 Connecticut Ave, Ste 3 ✓ 06851 7 Eleven 39381a 247 Main Ave ✓ Cumberland Farms, Inc 4658 136 Main St ✓ CVS Pharmacy 1154 295 Westport Ave ✓ ✓ CVS Pharmacy 854 327 Main Ave ✓ ✓ Fcc Farmer Market Of Norwalk Lewis St ✓ In And Out Variety 178 Main St ✓ La Esquina Deli & Grocery 69 Wilton Ave ✓ Produce Market Llc 235 Main St, Ste 7 ✓ Stew Leonard's 100 Westport Ave ✓ Stop & Shop 662 380 Main Ave, Ste 1 ✓ ✓ Walgreens 06308 55 Westport Ave, Ste 1 ✓ Walgreens 10058 235 Main St ✓ Walmart 2954 650 Main Ave ✓ 06854 59 Ely Avenue Food Company LLC 59 Ely Ave ✓ Anna Meat Market Corp 23 West Ave ✓ ✓ Brothers Mj Grocery 9 Bouton St ✓ Carribbean Grocery 161 W Cedar St ✓ Costco Wholesale 0324 779 Connecticut Ave ✓ Country Farm 2/Norwalk Comm 120 Connecticut Ave ✓ Health Ctr

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Retailer ADDRESS SNAP WIC 06854 Crespo And Sons 81 Woodward Ave ✓ ✓ Crespo Grocery 160 S Main St ✓ Ct Ave Gas Station LLC 128 Connecticut Ave ✓ CVS 7856 281 Connecticut Ave ✓ ✓ Deflorio's Variety 115 Ely Ave ✓ ✓ Dollar Tree 3794 330 Connecticut Ave ✓ El Coqui Grocery & Deli 39 Lexington Ave ✓ El Mercadito Grocery 33 Bouton Street ✓ ✓ Grade A Shoprite 360 Connecticut Ave ✓ ✓ Maximo Deli & Grocery 71 S Main St ✓ North Main Convenince 48 N Main St ✓ Norwalk Food Corp/C-Town 5 Washington St ✓ ✓ Supermarket Patel Brothers 330 Connecticut Ave ✓ Sono Mini Market 251 Ely Ave ✓ ✓ South Main Grocery & Deli 58 S Main St ✓ Stop & Shop 640 385 Connecticut Ave ✓ ✓ Town Stop Llc 224 Connecticut Ave ✓ Tropical Groceries 79 Cedar St ✓ Walgreens 10177 54 West Ave ✓ Walmart 3547 680 Connecticut Ave ✓ West Cedar Grocery 155 W Cedar St ✓ 06855 East Ave Gas Station 227 East Ave ✓ Rite Aid 3440 190 East Ave ✓

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Appendix D: SNAP and WIC Information SNAP (Food Stamps) Households and individuals who wish to apply for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may check eligibility and apply online at www.connect.ct.gov, under ‘Apply for Benefits’. If you prefer, you can fill out the application for SNAP benefits at ABCD:

Alliance for Community Empowerment (formerly ABCD, Inc.) Norwalk Office: 149 Water Street, 2nd Floor, Norwalk, CT 06854 (203) 838-8110 https://alliancect.org/

End Hunger Connecticut! SNAP Call Center www.endhungerct.org Associates from EHC!’s SNAP Call Center are available to assist you in applying for SNAP or for redeterminations. The call center operates in both Spanish and English. Call the toll-free SNAP Call Center at 866-974-SNAP (7627)

Norwalk WIC Program (Women, Infants & Children) Norwalk Health Department 137 East Ave, Norwalk, CT 06851 (203) 854-7885 http://www.norwalkhealth.com/

● Services: o Individual time to speak with a nutritionist or trained professional about your diet or your child’s diet. o Breastfeeding support and information. o Referrals to health care and other social services. o An eWIC card to buy healthy food for you or your children. ● Eligibility: o Pregnant women (through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth or after pregnancy ends). o Breastfeeding women (up to infant’s 1st birthday). o Non-breastfeeding postpartum women (up to 6 months after the birth of an infant or after pregnancy ends). o Infants* up to 1st birthday. o Children* up to their 5th birthday. *Fathers, grandparents, foster parents or other guardians may apply. ● Requirements: o Must live in Connecticut, but you do not need to be a US citizen. o Complete a nutrition assessment with WIC staff. o Must meet the WIC income guidelines, at or below 185% of the federal poverty income limit.

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Appendix E: Data Source Tables

Variable Source Source Source Year Estimate Geo-Level How It Was Table Table Calculated Name

Children Sex by Age B01001 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Persons ≤ 17yo /Total Population

Disability Receipt of Food B22010 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block groups Households with Households Stamps/SNAP (1) or more in the Past 12 persons with a Months by disability / Total Disability Households Status for Households

Educational Educational B15003 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Persons with a Attainment Attainment for bachelor's degree ≥Bachelors the Population or higher/ ≥ 25yo degree 25 Years and Over

Educational Educational B15003 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Persons with a HS Attainment Attainment for Diploma or less/ ≥ HS≥ the Population 25yo 25 Years and Over

Housing Gross Rent as a B25070 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Housing units > Burden Percentage of 50% of Household Household Income/ Total Income in the Renter-Occupied Past 12 Months Housing Units

Immigrant Allocation of B99051 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Foreign Born Population Citizenship Population/Total Status Population

Seniors Sex by Age B01001 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Persons ≥ 65 /Total Population

Single Parent Family Type by B11004 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Female and Guardian Presence and householder, no Age of Related partner present: Children Under With related 18 Years children of the householder under 18 years/ total families

SNAP Eligible Ratio of C17002 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Persons ≤ Federal Income to Poverty Level/ Poverty Level Population for in the Past 12 whom poverty Months status is determine

SNAP Receipt of Food B22010 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Household Households Stamps/SNAP received SNAP in in the Past 12 the past 12 Months by months/ Total Disability Household Status for Households

Unemploymen Employment B23025 ACS 2017 5-year estimate Block Groups Unemployed t Status for the civilian workforce/ Population 16 ≥ 16yo in Civilian Years and Over Workforce

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Glossary

American Community Survey Assessment that helps local officials, community leaders, and businesses understand the changes taking place in their communities. Provides detailed population and housing information about our nation.

Block (Census Block) Statistical areas bounded by visible features, such as streets, roads, streams, and railroad tracks, and by nonvisible boundaries, such as selected property lines and city, township, school district, and county limits and short line-of-sight extensions of streets and roads.

Block Group Statistical divisions of census tracts, are generally defined to contain between 600 and 3,000 people, and are used to present data and control block numbering. A block group consists of clusters of blocks within the same census tract.

Census Tract Small, relatively permanent statistical subdivisions of a county or equivalent entity that are updated by local participants prior to each decennial census as part of the Census Bureau's Participant Statistical Areas Program. Census tracts generally have a population size between 1,200 and 8,000 people, with an optimum size of 4,000 people.

Food Access Access by individuals to adequate resources for acquiring appropriate foods for a nutritious diet. Food access can be determined by the spatial accessibility and affordability of foods in general.

Food Agency An organization that provides food at no charge to clients in need through various types of programs (e.g., backpacks, congregate meals, pantry programs).

Food insecurity The lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food to meet the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Food Retailer An establishment that sells food to consumers.

GIS-Mapping Geographic information system; digital data that contains location-based information.

SNAP Formerly known as the Food Stamp Program, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the largest of the federal nutrition programs and provides qualified recipients with resources, in the form of an electronic payment card, to buy groceries.

WIC The Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides supplemental foods, health care referrals, and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.

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References 1. Gundersen, C., Dewey, A., Crumbaugh, A. S., Kato, M., & Engelhard, E. (n.d.). Map the Meal Gap 2018: A Report on County and Congressional District Food Insecurity and County Food Cost in the United States in 2016. Retrieved from https://www.feedingamerica.org/sites/default/files/research/map-the-meal-gap/2016/2016- map-the-meal-gap-full.pdf

2. Steven Manson, Jonathan Schroeder, David Van Riper, and Steven Ruggles. IPUMS National Historical Geographic Information System: Version 12.0 [Database]. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota. 2017. http://doi.org/10.18128/D050.V12.0

3. Key Statistics & Graphics. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition- assistance/food-security-in-the-us/key-statistics-graphics.aspx

4. Frongillo, E. A. (2019). Advancing Knowledge of How and Why Food Insecurity Is Associated with Poor Well-Being in Families and Individuals across the Life Course. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 119(10), 1621–1622. https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(19)30601- X/fulltext)

5. Seligman, H. K., Laraia, B. A., & Kushel, M. B. (2010). Food insecurity is associated with chronic disease among low-income NHANES participants. The Journal of nutrition, 140(2), 304–310. https://doi.org/10.3945/jn.109.112573

6. Hunger & Food Insecurity in America. (n.d.). http://www.feedingamerica.org/hunger-in- america/impact-of-hunger

7. Yibin Liu et al. (2019). Frequency of Food Pantry Use Is Associated with Diet Quality among Indiana Food Pantry Clients. Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Volume 119, Issue 10, 1703 – 1712. https://jandonline.org/article/S2212-2672(19)30198-4/fulltext

8. U.S. Census Bureau (2010). Norwalk City, Connecticut Quickfacts. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/norwalkcityconnecticut/POP010210

9. Gunderson, Craig and James P. Ziliak. (2014). Childhood Food Insecurity in the U.S: Trends, Causes, and Policy Options. https://futureofchildren.princeton.edu/sites/futureofchildren/files/media/childhood_food_insecu rity_researchreport-fall2014.pdf

10. Rodríguez, P. (2015). Determinants of Immigrant Food Security: An Examination of the Food Environment in the Region of Waterloo, Ontario. https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Determinants-of-Immigrant-Food-Security%3A-An-of- the-Rodr%C3%ADguez/b069b587880b1ef46d5f6b3f16b5ddc4c7e52592

11. Hunger and Poverty Among Immigrants. (2016, August). Retrieved from https://www.bread.org/sites/default/files/downloads/immigrants-fact-sheet-2016.pdf

12. Vignola E, Ruiz-Navarro P, Freudenberg N. Expanding Immigrant Access to Food Benefits in New York City: Defining Roles for City and State Government. CUNY Urban Food Policy Institute, 2018. 48 | Page

References (Continued) 13. Ziliak, J. P., & Gundersen, C. (2019, May). The State of Senior Hunger in America 2017: An Annual Report. -Norwalk Acts. Health and Wellness: Eat Well + Move More = Live Better, 2019 http://www.norwalkacts.org/health-and-wellness/

14. Alisha Coleman-Jensen, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh. 2018. Household Food Security in the United States in 2017, ERR-256, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. https://www.ers.usda.gov/webdocs/publications/90023/err- 256.pdf?v=0

15. Health and Wellness. (2017, December 6). Retrieved from http://www.norwalkacts.org/health- and-wellness/

16. U.S. Dept.of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service. (2019). Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Authorized Retailers. Retrieved from https://data.ct.gov/Health-and-Human- Services/Supplemental-Nutrition-Assistance-Program-SNAP-Aut/2xqb-xbez

17. Retailers. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://portal.ct.gov/DPH/WIC/Retailers

18. Where Can I Use SNAP EBT? (2019, December 31). Retrieved from https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailer-locator

19. Connecticut State Department of Public Health. (2019). Retrieved from http://portal.ct.gov/DPH/WIC/Retailers

20. Rental Burdens: Rethinking Affordability Measures: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.huduser.gov/portal/pdredge/pdr_edge_featd_article_092214.html

21. National Low Income Housing Coalition. Out Of Reach. (2019). Retrieved from https://reports.nlihc.org/oor

22. Waxman, E. (2017). U.S. Commentary: The Family Options Study and Food Insecurity. Cityscape, 19(3), 235-244. Retrieved April 20, 2020, from www.jstor.org/stable/26328363

23. Norwalk Transit District. (2019). Retrieved from https://www.norwalktransit.com/

24. Data Resources. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.ctdatahaven.org/data-resources

25. All Geocoding completed with the usage of the U.S. Census Geocoder. https://www.census.gov/geo/maps-data/data/geocoder.html

26. Census definitions provided by United States Census Bureau. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/geography/about/glossary.html

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