A new North Texas food plan aims to map gaps, secure funding, and improve access—but can it turn ideas into meals for families in need?
DALLAS — Dallas county and city officials are working on a plan to address food insecurity in North Texas.
The plan is still in the works, but it is meant to be a roadmap that local governments and community partners can use to ensure everyone can get affordable, healthy food, no matter their neighborhood.
Nearly 1 in 8 residents and almost 1 in 5 children in Dallas County lack consistent access to enough affordable, nutritious food, according to dallasfoodplan.org. About 25% of children in Dallas County lived in households with food insecurity in 2022, according to the site. That’s higher than state and national averages.
Officials presented the idea to the city’s environmental commission on April 8 and again to the parks, trails, and environment committee on May 4. The goal is to turn scattered efforts into a coordinated plan that helps win funding and holds all parties accountable in getting healthier, affordable food options for everyone, according to the presentation.
The plan will map out where food is harder to come by and what programs already exist. It also sets priorities, assigns roles, measures progress, and lays out budgets and timelines.
A steering committee has been formed to help put together and implement the plan. It includes the county, City of Dallas, North Texas Food Bank, local colleges, and other organizations.
Cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Austin, and others have all rolled out food plans with similar goals. There are also examples of city-county food plans in other states. These include the Chicago Region Food Plan, the Portland/Metro Regional Food Plan, and the Indianapolis Food Policy.
In Dallas, $200,000 has been raised for the plan, which is set to be finished by Fall 2026.