Report: Hunger Growing in Northwest Bronx

A new report has revealed the difficulty many Northwest Bronx residents have finding affordable, healthy food. 

The report comes from Part of the Solution, also known as POTS. The nonprofit organization runs a soup kitchen and food pantry, and provides services such as job counseling and free haircuts in an area they say is under-served by nonprofits. POTS Executive Director Christopher Bean says they're struggling to keep up with a growing demand in the Northwest Bronx. 

"Even if we expanded, we'd have to grow tenfold to be able to meet the need," explained Bean. 

Bean says many of their clients come from the areas surrounding the Cross Bronx Expressway. But most of the other non-profits only serve the areas south of that, leaving POTS mostly on their own in the Northwest. 

The POTS report also says there are more people in need of their services, and a decent meal is harder to come by in the community. Keith Holliday is a recently laid-off home health aid who comes to POTS regularly. 

"Things are getting worse. New York is a great city, but there's no middle class. It's either you're rich or you're poor," says Holliday. He usually comes to POTS for lunch, and picks up some groceries in the pantry.

Holliday also says affordable, quality food can be difficult to come by in the Northwest Bronx. 

"I think food is very expensive. You know, you go to the supermarket, it's amazing how junk food, soda and stuff is low, but fresh fruit, tomatoes and stuff is very expensive. So a lot of times, people are not eating right," Holliday adds.  

The POTS report says the community needs more public investment in affordable housing, job growth, and educational opportunities to stem the rising tide of poverty in the area. Unless more is done at the policy level, POTS worries they'll struggle to serve the community's growing needs.