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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.
Why it matters: Presenters noted that Ann Arbor’s high cost of living hides a great deal of poverty and that children’s hunger has recently trended upward in county-level data the group reviewed. Local nonprofits described budget cuts, staffing losses and volunteer burnout that constrain distribution capacity.
What students found and recommended: The group interviewed local providers, including the food-rescue nonprofit Food Gatherers and CAN (Community Action Network). They reported that some community organizations are using economies of scale to stretch dollars but that sudden funding reductions forced staff layoffs and service contractions. Students suggested short-term, one-time local funding to bridge immediate gaps and emphasized the need for stable, multi-year funding to avoid repeating cycles of crisis and recovery.
The presenters also highlighted community-based prevention and resilience measures practiced elsewhere: community gardens, skill-building workshops, volunteer training to boost neighborhood self-sufficiency and partnerships with farmers or grocery vendors to redirect fresh produce before spoilage. The students listed local groups already doing related work, including Growing Hope and Slow Food Huron Valley, and said some programs combine education, paid teen work opportunities and donations to pantries.
Discussion and city context: Commissioners and council members discussed where city funding might be directed and noted coordination with county partners would be necessary because municipal dollars alone would not reach all affected households. A council member reported the administration has been setting aside marijuana excise tax revenue and public-safety/mental-health rebate funds, and said one-time funds could be used for emergency relief while the city works toward more stable revenue allocations. Presenters and commissioners also discussed logistics such as existing county-wide food maps and distribution calendars used by Food Gatherers and other providers.
Ending: Commissioners encouraged rapid action to help pantries and requested presenters supply an updated list of local resources and more precise data on service volumes; the commission discussed greater outreach and partnership with county agencies to coordinate emergency funding and longer-term anti-hunger measures.
