Ken Hudson’s story as told to Amanda Hunter
Growing up in a single parent household taught me a few things: first, you are not going to get everything you want; second, you will probably share a room until your roommate becomes of age and moves out; third, you’re going to need to get a job to help out with expenses; fourth, be prepared for your brother’s hand-me-downs; and fifth, there will be plenty of love and attention to go around.
Yes, I grew up in a poor family; although, I didn’t discover this until I was in my twenties. My mother was handicapped and could not work, therefore she applied for government assistance, and we were raised on food stamps. Me, my brother, and two sisters were later joined in our small two-bedroom home, that had a make-shift room in the basement, by my mom’s brother and his five kids. They would eventually rent a house across the street from us until my uncle’s untimely death, which meant three of my cousins would come back to stay with us again.
We lived in a neighborhood that was heavily populated with a good mix of all types of people with different levels of economic status. There weren’t any large, subsidized housing apartments in my neighborhood, but there was Section-8 housing and plenty of under-served families. The neighborhood had its share of small single-family owned corner stores that attempted to supply us with day-to-day and nutritional needs. Our family had its own challenges.
I think about the community I grew up in, and often find similarities between it and the Whitely neighborhood. For instance, Whitely people are generous and often give back in some way, whether it is with a neighborhood organization, their child’s school, or at their church. They may not always be able to give their money, but they will give their time if you ask them to. The people here are very friendly and will invite you into their personal space quickly once they feel a common bond with you. With ten churches in the Whitely neighborhood alone, faith is an important element in most families, this I can personally relate with. In Whitely, everyone knows how to cook! Many of the residents enjoy fishing as a pastime activity. Many Whitely residents aspire to start their own businesses and many of them have tried and have been successful. This neighborhood has a rich history and many stories to tell.
Absent from the community is public and private resources that help to create a healthy community when present. Resources that feed the community and cause it to thrive and grow. Resources that help create healthy habits within the family structure and even serve to decrease stress. Although grocery stores were once within and near to the neighborhood, they are no longer within one mile of the neighborhood. This has negatively affected the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables for families young and old. There have been several attempts to remedy the absence of fresh produce by the neighborhood association and local groups, from mobile farm stands to popup gardens, and even neighborhood food pantries. None of these attempts will have the lasting effects of a local market that offers fresh produce daily.
The Whitely neighborhood has inadequate access to healthcare, which includes dental and pharmaceutical. The neighborhood is considered a medical desert! The lack of access to healthcare can contribute to far greater consequences within the community. With African Americans being diagnosed at a higher rate for diseases such as stroke, various cancers, asthma, heart diseases, HIV/AIDS, and diabetes, the risk are greater when such resources are absent and otherwise not used. Patient-provider relationships suffer from perceived discrimination, medical mistrust, and poor communication and if residents never see a doctor, basic information and education is never transferred. Indoor gathering spaces are also needed for recreation activities. This would benefit young and old residents.
Many families have a need for some type of financial counseling or coaching. Programs of this type are currently not in the area but are needed along with other social help programs that would benefit individuals and families trying to change their current condition as it relates to economic health and wealth.
As you can see, food insecurity is not the only problem in the Whitely neighborhood, and for some it is not the most significant. Societal problems and their solutions are always deeper than we can see, and require us to look further and dig deeper than just under the surface. We must realize that when families struggle, the undeniable, inevitable result is that the neighborhood is going to struggle; and to build the community up, we must figure out what will help it grow. This is how we start to solve the problems we see and want to change.
The Whitely neighborhood has a rhythm that beats like an old southern church hymn or a negro spiritual. It is everlasting and resilient in all its ways, and will continue to beat for its children to sing for years into the future; the elders of the community will ensure it. Finding solutions to its woes will take time and courage, but with steadiness and thoughtful consideration the community will succeed and thrive, and the history and culture will be preserved for all to enjoy.
This story originally appeared in Facing Resource Insecurity, a publication of The Facing Project that was organized by Second Harvest Food Bank of East-Central Indiana.
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