Older people in Dallas are disproportionately affected by food shortages

Texas has the second-highest number of seniors struggling to make a living, according to data released last week by Feeding America.

The report also says that in Texas, over one million people ages 50 and older lack regular access to nutritious meals and that food insecurity is 2.7 times higher among black and Latino adults than among white adults.

“It’s not just a food insecurity issue,” said Jessica Johnston, senior director of economic well-being at the National Council on Aging. “It’s an issue of overall financial security and economic well-being.”

Texas’ aging population is growing rapidly, and that increase is expected to continue. According to Texas Health and Human Services, the number of Texans over 50 is expected to nearly double by 2050, reaching 16.4 million.

“We think of seniors as older, seniors who often have the image of an 85-year-old grandmother struggling to get enough to eat, and of course that’s part of it,” said Craig Gundersen, an economics professor at Baylor University. “But there’s actually what we call a declining age gradient.”

The gradient refers to the higher concentration of people aged 50 to 59 who are food insecure compared to people over 60.

Many programs that provide monthly payments to low-income people—such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI)—do not take full effect until the recipient reaches age 65. But these benefits often cannot keep pace with rising living costs.

The realization that more people between the ages of 50 and 59 are experiencing food insecurity is one reason Feeding America collected data on this age group for the first time. The data can also provide insight into how many people in the next age group will struggle with food insecurity.

Health care and food insecurity have a strong influence on each other, says Julie Krawczyk, financial security director at The Senior Source, a service that supports seniors in difficult financial situations. Some people with chronic health problems and deficiencies cannot eat the food provided by aid organizations.

“It’s a struggle because there’s shame in going to a food bank,” Krawcyzk said. “And besides, it just doesn’t feel dignified when you don’t have the opportunity to choose the foods that are best for you and meet your nutritional needs.”

Nettie Turner, a retiree from DeSoto who turns 74 this month, said her Social Security income and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are far from enough to afford the food she needs, especially since she has numerous health problems.

For Turner, who himself suffers from high blood pressure and diabetes, fruits and vegetables are essential to his health, but are difficult to find at an affordable price.

“I have all these illnesses that require me to eat a balanced diet three times a day,” she said. “That’s not going to happen.”

On Wednesday mornings, Turner views supermarket sales as a supplement to what she receives from food banks. Often, that means buying canned vegetables and fruit.

“Canned food is cancer, you shouldn’t eat processed food. But we have no choice,” Turner said.

Seniors receive an average benefit of $118 per month for SNAP. The benefit is loaded monthly onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, more commonly called a Lone Star Card in Texas.

But Turner barely receives the minimum benefit of $23 a month, which isn’t enough to cover rising food prices. While it’s not much, the extra help can make a big difference.

When her EBT card is loaded with her monthly $27 allowance, Turner likes to use it on frozen spinach from Kroger.

“I love the frozen spinach from Kroger,” she said. “I can’t afford the fresh spinach, but I love the frozen spinach.”

In areas like southern Dallas, designated a food desert by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), healthy, nutritious food can be difficult to obtain.

Organizations like FEED Oak Cliff are working to solve this problem by providing fresh produce and hosting events like the annual Dallas VegFest, scheduled for September 22.

Anga Sanders, founder of FEED Oak Cliff, said that while she is able to drive 25 miles a week to shop for groceries, she has seen other older people and seniors struggling to get to grocery stores or food banks.

“If you are a senior, an older person without your own transportation, you find yourself in a situation where you either have to ask or pay someone to drive you to the grocery store or use public transportation,” Sanders said.

One of the leading causes of food insecurity is disability, according to a 2021 USDA report. Due to age and health conditions, seniors tend to have higher rates of disabilities and mobility limitations that limit their ability to shop for groceries and other items, and instead must turn to family members or others for help.

“All the kids and grandkids have jobs,” Turner said. “I don’t want anyone to lose their job just because they’re trying to get me where I need to go.”

Three months ago, Turner skipped her usual monthly visit to Crossroads, a food bank that also offers financial services, because her chronic knee pain made her afraid to drive. She explained that there is no cartilage, just bones that rub together when she moves.

The stigma associated with applying for food assistance can also be a barrier. Krawcyzk said the biggest challenge in getting seniors enrolled in assistance systems like SNAP is a matter of “pride.”

Assistance programs can provide support to those facing hunger, but the application process can be cumbersome, says Benaye Wadkins Chambers, CEO of Crossroads Community Services.

In addition to being a food distribution site, Crossroads also offers senior support services, such as assistance with enrolling in SNAP. The North Texas Food Bank also offers a SNAP support line in addition to its Commodity Supplemental Food Program, which includes monthly distribution of food packages to seniors.

When seniors are under financial pressure because they don’t have support for other living expenses like rent or health care, food isn’t as high a priority, says Clarissa Clarke, government relations officer at the North Texas Food Bank.

“Food is one of the first things people cut back on to keep the lights on,” Clarke said.

Rising inflation in recent years has led to an increase in demand for support services for the elderly and seniors. Before the pandemic, the North Texas Food Bank spent $5 million annually on food. Clarke said it now spends nearly $30 million, partly due to demand and rising food costs.

Crossroads Community Services has also seen a decline in the amount of food it can distribute. The nonprofit used to distribute 25 pounds of food per person. That number has dropped to 20 pounds, Wadkins Chambers said.

“We want to be able to serve everyone who comes to us, and that’s not just Crossroads,” she said. “I think that’s true for all of us.”