defining west englewood's problem
View Grocery Stores in West Englewood in a larger map
food desert
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Image of a corner store in West Englewood
West Englewood became a food desert because of industrial decentralization. Factories and basic industries moved away from West Englewood, causing residents to lose their jobs and have less money to spend. Basic Industries can not move back in or be built because they would not be able to meet their threshold.
The movement of basic industries also means that the money spent in the stores cannot be invested back into the neighborhood. With this decrease in the tax base, there is less money for parks, libraries, schools, etc.
According to the Food, Fitness, and Health Plan for Englewood, "There is an annual leakage of $69 million as the 80,000 residents of the greater Englewood
Community have little option other than to shop for groceries and visit
restaurants in other communities " If there was more food available nearby to residents, then the $69 million spent can help improve West Englewood.
The movement of basic industries also means that the money spent in the stores cannot be invested back into the neighborhood. With this decrease in the tax base, there is less money for parks, libraries, schools, etc.
According to the Food, Fitness, and Health Plan for Englewood, "There is an annual leakage of $69 million as the 80,000 residents of the greater Englewood
Community have little option other than to shop for groceries and visit
restaurants in other communities " If there was more food available nearby to residents, then the $69 million spent can help improve West Englewood.
The effects of a food desert
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West Englewood or Food Desert 1 (in blue) has the highest impact on kids,
diabetes and total population in Chicago.
Cheap nutritious fruits and vegetables are not available to most middle and low income residents of West Englewood. This causes more accelerated health problems such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes, asthma, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure.
An article in the Chicago Magazine states, "An estimated 64,000 households in food deserts don’t have cars." Because these households do not have cars, people cannot travel to grocery stores that are miles away to get the food they need. Instead of riding the CTA bus home with loads of groceries, people often just eat out, which causes a myriad of health problems like the ones mentioned before. The Chicago Mag also says, "109,000 food desert residents are single mothers." Single mothers are hardworking and often do not have the time or means to drive miles away just to get the fresh food needed.
An article in the Chicago Magazine states, "An estimated 64,000 households in food deserts don’t have cars." Because these households do not have cars, people cannot travel to grocery stores that are miles away to get the food they need. Instead of riding the CTA bus home with loads of groceries, people often just eat out, which causes a myriad of health problems like the ones mentioned before. The Chicago Mag also says, "109,000 food desert residents are single mothers." Single mothers are hardworking and often do not have the time or means to drive miles away just to get the fresh food needed.