Access to nutritious food is fundamental to health and well-being. However, many people struggle with food insecurity, which can negatively affect physical health, educational outcomes and economic mobility.

Colleen Heflin, professor of public administration and international affairs, discusses the issue of food insecurity on WCNY's “CONNECT NY.” 

“I think it's important to note that while poverty is a really significant risk factor for food insecurity, there are more people that live above the poverty line, actually, who are food insecure. It is the working poor. It's people that actually earn too much to potentially qualify for SNAP [Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program],” says Heflin.

“So there is this donut hole where they are making too much to qualify for some of the programs but not enough to actually become food secure in this environment with the current economic conditions and the higher cost of housing as well as food and transportation and utilities,” Heflin says.