Los Angeles Times: For Women Ex-Prisoners, Food Insecurity can Trigger Catastrophe. Activists Want More Aid (June 19, 2023)
Mirabal is one of thousands of women who face food insecurity each year upon their release from the California prison system. But that’s just the tip of an iceberg, experts say. Food insecurity can extend to family members of formerly incarcerated women and can spiral into other problems that increase the risk of recidivism.
Trinh Phan, director of state income security for Justice in Aging, a national nonprofit organization that focuses on advocacy and policy development to improve access to public benefits such as Supplemental Security Income and SNAP/CalFresh, said groups like hers must make noise to attract lawmakers’ attention.
“This campaign is a cry for help, not just from the women leaving the system but from entire families, including children who may be affected,” she said.
