Food Insecurity in Local Communities: How Data Collection Can Improve Community Policy

Over the summer of 2018, we ran a case study in Henrico County, Virginia, seeking to employ simplistic data collection methods to better understand the complex network of issues surrounding food insecurity. In studying a specific issue within a single bounded area, this study aims to demonstrate that local governments can address large-scale issues within their communities through data collection and analysis. This study was successful in identifying several key components contributing to food insecurity and broader income insecurity concerns, paving the way for policy solutions targeted at specific root causes of insecurity. With these findings, we confirmed the overarching theory that simple data collection methods can vastly improve the way local governments interact with their communities