Creating a data-driven decision-support tool to ensure equitable access to healthy, affordable food in the Houston region during COVID-19

The Foundation's Data for Healthy Communities initiative was designed to create the conditions in communities that allow all residents to reach their best possible health and well-being by: (1) strengthening the evidence base for how conditions of place impact health; (2) extending the use of data and evidence throughout the decision-making process, including policy; (3) using data collection and analysis to bring communities closer together by building the capacity of places to use data, develop leaders, and genuinely engage their community; and (4) developing norms, behaviors, and formal rules of interaction related to how data are communicated and used to address problems and initiate change in underserved communities.This funding will support creating a data-driven, decision-support tool for food insecurity that will help Urban Harvest direct its relief services across the Houston metroplex in response to challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying pockets of food insecurity; understanding how SNAP beneficiaries use their SNAP dollars; and determining points of optimal service for a new mobile market. The project will provide insights into 'data to action' processes that are central to Data for Healthy Communities. Deliverables will include the decision-support tool; focus-group research with SNAP shoppers to share their experiences, challenges, and preferences; and a presentation from Urban Harvest to peer organizations on use of the new tool.