INDIANAPOLIS – The City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) is announcing the development of an innovative, multi-platform communication tool to connect food-insecure Indianapolis residents with critical resources. Food Compass is the result of two years of development led by the City of Indianapolis Office of Public Health and Safety (OPHS) and the Indy Hunger Network.
A navigational communication tool, Food Compass will contain features such as a food pantry finder, event finder for farmers’ markets and mobile pantries, as well as an eligibility calculator to determine the nutrition assistance programs that residents may qualify for. The app aims to reduce barriers to households applying for federal nutrition benefits, such as allowing for anonymity as a solution to the stigma often associated with food assistance.
The Indy Civic Hack’s focus on food insecurity was spurred by the Unmet Need Study, commissioned by OPHS and the Indy Hunger Network. The study reported that 22 percent of Marion County residents had a need for food assistance, and 5 percent of residents miss meals or eat less than they normally would as a result of food insecurity.