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Even within relatively wealthy cities, food insecurity and health inequalities can be sharply concentrated in specific neighborhoods. We show how economic inequality, food access, and health outcomes are closely linked across Staten Island — and what this means for city leaders and practitioners.
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Target audience
This briefing is intended for: Municipal public health officials, Urban planners and transportation authorities, and Community-based organizations working on food access and poverty.These stakeholders play a direct role in shaping food environments, transportation systems, and social supports that influence neighborhood health outcomes.
The problem
Food insecurity persists even in high-income cities. In Staten Island, sharp contrasts exist between the North Shore and South Shore, with some neighbourhoods facing limited food access, economic disadvantage, and higher health risks. These disparities are often hidden in citywide averages. When food access, income inequality, and transportation barriers overlap, residents experience greater vulnerability to poor physical and mental health. Without targeted local data, these inequities remain insufficiently addressed in policy and planning.
What we did and why
We collected household-level survey data across Staten Island and combined it with neighbourhood-level socioeconomic indicators. We examined how income inequality, food insecurity, employment insecurity, and health outcomes are connected. We used spatial mapping to highlight neighbourhood differences and statistical modelling to better understand how these factors interact. Our goal was to provide locally grounded evidence that can inform more targeted and equitable food and health policies within the borough.
Our study’s contribution
This study adds hyper-local evidence to discussions of urban inequality and health. Specifically, we show that:
• Income inequality is closely linked to food insecurity and self-reported health.
• Food insecurity operates as a key intermediate condition between economic stress and health outcomes.
• Educational attainment appears to buffer households against vulnerability.
• Stark contrasts exist within the borough, particularly between North and South Shore neighborhoods.
These findings highlight the importance of place-based urban health analysis.
Impacts for city policy and practice
Our findings suggest that city responses must go beyond food distribution alone. Effective strategies include:
• Integrating food access planning with transportation and zoning policy.
• Protecting access to federal food assistance programs such as SNAP in areas with limited retail food access.
• Pairing food initiatives with workforce development and education programs.
• Using neighborhood-level data and mapping to guide resource allocation.
Targeted, spatially informed policies can help reduce food insecurity and related health disparities within cities.
Further information
Full research article:
Urban inequality and health: structural pathways from income disparities to food insecurity in Staten Island, New York by Giacomo Di Pasquale, Katerina Cervenkova, Lily Condron & Emma Lofstedt
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