DESERTED?: A Policy Report on Food Access in Four South Side Chicago Neighborhoods

The problem of “food deserts” in Chicago is a serious one. Low-income neighborhoods are disproportionately affected by the lack of access to healthy fresh food options, and individuals living in them disproportionately suffer from diet-related illnesses. The goal of the Chicago Policy Research Team (CPRT) in this report is to analyze the food access experiences of specific neighborhoods on Chicago’s South Side, and in doing so, contribute a rich, fieldwork-based examination of the food desert question to the existing literature that predominantly features quantitative data and city-wide analyses. The report also highlights local, state and federal efforts underway to address barriers to healthy food access and makes neighborhood-specific policy recommendations. Additionally, please check out the color map addendum: http://www.lulu.com/product/item/deserted-the-color-map-addendum/11053535