According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 11% of working-age Veterans (ages 18–64) experienced food insecurity between 2015 and 2019.
Food insecurity is limited or uncertain access to nutritionally sufficient food.
In 2017, VA added a food insecurity component to its homelessness screener to ensure all Veterans seen at VA medical centers are screened for both food insecurity and homelessness.
In March 2021, VA updated this component to the Hunger Vital Sign, a two-question screening tool used to better identify at-risk households. Staff who use the screening tool are also trained to provide resources and counseling for Veterans.
“This isn’t just about homelessness,” said Megan M. Bowman. “Veterans are having to choose between food and medication.”
Bowman is a registered dietitian and assistant chief of Nutrition and Food Services at the VA Salt Lake City Health Care System.
Once a Veteran has screened positive for food insecurity, a three-month reminder is entered in their health record to ensure that Veterans who move in and out of food insecurity are screened regularly.
Since VA first began using a food insecurity screen in 2017, there have been more than 10 million screenings involving 7 million Veterans.
The food insecurity screen makes it easier for staff at the Robert J. Dole VA Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas, to ensure that food is available to Veterans who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
They do this through two programs: Veterans Ride Free and the Dole Food Bank Delivery.
The Dole Food Bank Delivery program was initially created solely for Veterans experiencing homelessness, but it was expanded in April 2021 to include any Veteran who meets an income threshold.
In partnership with Disabled American Veterans, DAV drivers pick up food from two local food banks and deliver it to Veterans’ homes. Each Veteran receives two boxes of food per month from each of the two food bank partners.
They also receive a cookbook created by Dole VA Nutrition Services that has recipes using common ingredients provided by the food banks.
Dole VA also partners with Wichita Transit and The United Way of the Plains to operate Veterans Ride Free, which provides free bus rides to Veterans. These partnerships have helped Veterans who have experienced issues with reliable transportation and food insecurity.
“What we have found in Wichita is that people who are literally homeless sometimes have access to more food resources than when they are housed because our community provides free meals for those in shelters or even on the street,” said Suzanne Jenkins, Homeless Program supervisor. “The Dole Food Bank Delivery program helped those who are now housed with little or no income continue to access free food.”
Jennifer Cheney, a Veteran enrolled in the Housing and Urban Development-VA Supportive Housing program, was identified as eligible for the Dole Food Bank Delivery and Veterans Ride Free programs thanks to the food insecurity screener.
“We get a calendar with the delivery schedule for the food delivery services,” said Cheney. “And the boxes include a lot – like beans, lentils, milk, juice and vegetables.”
For more blog posts on food security, visit: https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/?s=food+insecurity.
Richard Bong was enamored of flying from an early age. As a young child, he…
The SVA Census is an annual survey that collects data on student Veterans, alumni, and other…
U.S. Postal Inspection Service and its Operation Protect Veterans campaign want Veterans to be mindful…
VA helped Pete battle alcoholism, live better, and overcome chronic pain. And Pete found a…
During Hispanic Heritage Month, today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran David L. Flores, who served as…
Veterans enrolled in VA health care are eligible to receive a no-cost flu vaccine from…
View Comments
How can we help support our local veterans with this? I volunteer for a non-profit org where volunteers cook and drop off/serve fresh, nutritious, plant-based meals at shelters and we have served over 50,000 plant-based meals. Is there a way for us to be able to help our local veterans in WA? Would appreciate some guidance along these lines.