News

February 23, 2026

Head Start Releases Food Insecurity Fact Sheet That Focuses on Pregnant Women and Children

In the wake of recent increases in demand for food assistance and disruptions in the systems that provide it, Pennsylvania’s Head Start Collaboration Office has released a fact sheet regarding food insecurity.

The fact sheet highlights key considerations for serving pregnant women, infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and individuals with special needs.

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The Head Start fact sheet notes that it is vital for community partners to connect to provide resources for pregnant women and children experiencing homelessness because their nutritional needs are unique and essential to their health and development.

Persistent hunger can affect immediate physical well-being, but it can also hinder learning and development and contribute to long-term trauma, potentially shaping an individual’s sense of safety and stability throughout life.

The fact sheet highlights considerations for serving pregnant women and children of various ages such as limited access to refrigeration and food storage. It is intended to serve as a practical tool to guide program actions, educate the community, and frame meaningful conversations about nutrition with staff and families.

Fact Sheet

The fact sheet notes that homelessness can result in:

Absence of ongoing access to child food items, snacks, and adaptations for special needs
Lack of kitchen facilities, such as sink, stove, refrigeration, storage, utensils
Barriers obtaining WIC/SNAP and medications, such as transportation, address changes, and technology

Homelessness during pregnancy, according to the fact sheet, increases the likelihood of prenatal and delivery complications and developmental delays due to inadequate nutrition.

For infants, homelessness during infancy negatively affects breastfeeding, access to formula, and understanding sensitivities, while for toddlers it can limit exposure to a variety of age-appropriate food items and opportunities for mastering body awareness, sensation, and preferences.

Homelessness during the preschool year is associated with persistent hunger, which affects growth, attention, engagement, and learning.

For more information, take a look at Head Start’s fact sheet.

News

February 11, 2025

Just Harvest Helps with SNAP, Tax Prep, and Other Services

Just Harvest helps those struggling with food security in Allegheny County as well as other free services. The organization aims to reduce hunger by boosting income and access to healthy food.

Services

Just Harvest offers a variety of services, including:

SNAP: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is a public benefit that can supplement a food budget. Just Harvest helps eligible families to apply for these benefits.
Benefits case advocacy: Just Harvest helps those having trouble applying for or receiving food stamps, LIHEAP, or cash assistance (TANF) through the state’s Department of Human Services.
Tax help: Just Harvest provides free IRS-certified tax preparation assistance to low-income families in Allegheny County.
Fresh access: Just Harvest operates a kiosk at 20 area farmers markets and farm stands in the Pittsburgh area from May to November. Customers can shop with food stamps using their ACCESS/EBT card to purchase fresh produce, baked goods, meat, and dairy products.
Fresh Corners: This healthy corner store initiative partners with local store owners in parts of Allegheny County that lack supermarkets. It provides affordable access to fresh, nutritious foods.

More information on the services that Just Harvest provides can be found on this flier.

For information on 2025 SNAP discounts, view this flier. And for general 2025 SNAP information, check out this flier.

News

July 23, 2024

Report: Hundreds of Thousands Suffer from Food Insecurity in Allegheny County

More than 140,000 people in Allegheny County are struggling with food insecurity, which is defined as a lack of access to adequate food that prevents individuals from leading a healthy life, according to a report by Feeding America.

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According to the report, food insecurity is associated with numerous social and health outcomes and is considered a critical public health issue. Key drivers of food insecurity include unemployment, poverty, and income shocks – or, a sudden decrease in a household’s income – which can prevent adequate access to food.

A total of 142,190 Allegheny County residents – or 11.4% – were found to struggle with food insecurity, according to the report. Additionally, 44% of county residents were found to be above the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) threshold, while 56% were below the threshold of 200%.

The report’s map includes estimated food insecurity by race and ethnicity for select populations and places. The report’s methodology and data are also available.

More Details

More information on SNAP can be found on the state’s Department of Human Services website. Residents can apply online at COMPASS, via phone at 1-800-692-7462, or at a local county assistance office, which can be found online.

Those applying for assistance will need to provide their name, birthday, address, gross income, and Social Security number.

Also, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh are offering food programs to provide free meals for children while they are out of school this summer.

The Homewood Early Learning Hub & Family Center operates a walk-in food distribution program every Monday.