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University students tell Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission food insecurity rising in Washtenaw County as nonprofit funding falls
Summary
Student researchers told the commission that federal cuts and decreased nonprofit resources have increased food insecurity locally, urged short-term funding to pantries and longer-term supports such as community gardening and coordination among providers.
A University of Michigan student team presented research to the Ann Arbor Human Rights Commission on April showing rising food insecurity in Washtenaw County alongside cuts to federal programs and strained nonprofit supplies, and urged immediate local funding to support pantries plus longer-term prevention strategies.
The presenters said national programs and local nonprofits have both seen reductions in resources and that certain kinds of donations (shelf-stable items) have remained common while higher-cost goods such as dairy and meat — items food pantries need to meet nutritional demand — are in short supply. They said EBT- and USDA-funded supports have changed recently and that work requirements tied to some benefits can pose access barriers.
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