UCHRA: Hunger Not In Top Needs Of The Region For First Time

A UCHRA assessment found hunger and food insecurity did not register among the Upper Cumberland’s top five needs this year.

September is Hunger Action Month. UCHRA Deputy Director LaNelle Godsey said the organization remains focused on the issue, with one person going hungry being one too many. Godsey said there were several factors that helped take hunger off the list.

“We determined that since COVID there has been a lot more organizations that are providing food to our friends and neighbors in the Upper Cumberland, so we definitely think that is helping,” Godsey said. “There is also programs through UHCRA and other partners.”

Godsey said as Hunger Action Month winds down she wanted to make sure the focus was on stopping hunger in Tennessee. She said UCHRA provides commodities distributions every month to citizens of the Upper Cumberland in need.

“Even though it didn’t hit in the top five, it is still a very big priority to UCHRA and a lot of our community partners,” Godsey said. “Through our programs here at UCHRA, we strive to support people experiencing those food insecurities in the Upper Cumberland.”

“We’ve increased the amount of food going out into the hands of our neighbors. So we are very pleased we are able to do that and going forward we still see us being able to give out additional items at our commodities events.”

UCHRA conducts the Community Needs Assessment every three years. The top five needs in order were higher paying jobs, access to affordable housing, quality job opportunities, access to mental health services, and resources for the homeless.