As the summer comes to an end, Houstonians are once again gifted with the yearly return of Houston Restaurant Weeks (HRW). This annual event fosters a fun way for the community to help in the fight against food insecurity. From August 1st to September 2nd, diners can visit restaurants around the city and order a special HRW menu. Participating restaurants will then donate a portion of the profits to the Houston Food Bank. The idea of HRW is to “Dine Out and Do Good”. And the initiative certainly has done good. In the 20 years that HRW has operated, it has raised $18.8 million, providing 56.4 million meals to the Houston Food Bank. The fundraiser has impacted the lives of millions of people and brings the topic of food insecurity to the dinner table.

The discussion surrounding food insecurity is essential. Feeding America estimates that over 44 million people suffered from food insecurity so far this year. Locally here in Harris County, the food-insecure population totals 682,650 people. 14.8% of the Harris County community faces food insecurity, and the annual food budget deficit – the amount needed to ensure that individuals struggling with food insecurity have the bare minimum necessities – totals over $336,520,000. HRW contributes significantly to the fight against food insecurity, but it does not come close to securing the right to food for all Americans. To have a chance of solving food insecurity, the community must step up.

One population that seems to be missing in the fight against food insecurity is the legal community. Many legal fields work tangentially to the fight against food insecurity, but very few attorneys actually tackle the issue. Food and beverage lawyers address food-related concerns, but they focus mostly on FDA regulations. Agricultural lawyers defend the production of food but don’t work with its distribution as much. Finally, poverty lawyers help low-income individuals access benefits, but food insecurity and nutrition-based public benefits are rarely at the top of the list. This fact, in conjunction with the reality that food-insecure populations do not have the money to afford a specialized lawyer, leaves entire communities underserved, and the issue of food insecurity remains rampant.

However, the legal community can fill this gap in several ways. On the individual level, pro bono attorneys can assist with social benefit matters. Generally, individuals with food insecurity can acquire necessary resources through government assistance programs. Unfortunately, these assistance programs are rather complicated. Issues arise from obtaining, maintaining, and re-establishing these benefits, and these issues impact low-income communities on a daily basis. People facing food insecurity often don’t have the resources or the time to navigate these requirements or dispute massive government agencies. These are serious legal issues that often require an attorney to sort through complicated legalese and numerous government requirements. Pro bono efforts can help by ensuring that people get access to the help that they are entitled to, one family at a time.

On a larger scale, attorneys can work towards making more systemic changes. One way to do this is by supporting policies targeting food insecurity. Government assistance does make a difference in the lives of those without the resources to put food on the table. However, these programs are constantly at risk for budget cuts and changes to eligibility. Attorneys can advocate for these programs on local, state, and federal levels to ensure more reliable assistance for communities.

Finally, lawyers and other community members can help by getting involved with local anti-hunger initiatives, such as the Houston Food Bank. Whether through donation or volunteer time, community members make a difference one contribution at a time. When the community comes together to fight food insecurity, more families are able to put food on the table. Houston Restaurant Weeks may only be around for a few days out of the year, but it serves as a good reminder that you can always help your community.

Ex Libris Juris - HCLL Blog