Advocate
Your Voice Matters
Food for better lives starts with policy for better lives. Use your voice to shape policies that increase economic security which drives food security.
What is Advocacy?
Advocacy is the act of speaking up and taking action to support a cause or address a problem. It’s about using your voice to influence decisions that affect you and your community. Whether advocating for public policy changes or community improvements, the goal is to bring about positive change.
Advocacy can take many forms, from raising awareness through social media to directly engaging with your elected officials. At its core, advocacy is about empowerment – giving people and communities the tools and support they need to create a better, more just society. Sign up to start advocating and learn more.
What is public policy? How does it affect you and your community?
Public policy is how the government addresses public problems. It includes the laws, regulations, and practices that help solve our society’s biggest challenges.
Elected officials are the ones who decide all public law – how much taxes you are going to pay, education standards, public works, and even the speed limits on the roads. Each of you are represented by elected officials at the federal, state, and local level.
State policies only affect the people who live in that state.
Example: Workplace protections, public transportation
Federal policies affect everyone who live and work in the United States and its territories.
Examples: Children’s Health Insurance Program, Child Tax Credit
What are you Advocating About?
Food insecurity is often caused by multiple factors. Lack of affordable housing, access to healthcare, and livable wages are just a few examples of the linked problems.
These challenges aren’t accidents; they’re often the result of policies that don’t prioritize the needs of our communities. To create lasting change and end food insecurity, we must work together to advocate for policies that address these root causes.
Root Causes of Food Insecurity
Make Your Concerns Heard
Learn what you can do just by contacting your elected officials. When we raise our voices together, we can make change happen.
News About Our Advocacy Work
House Bill 32 and Senate Bill 38 – Houston Chronicle Op-Ed
Recently Policy Analyst Amanda Pope with Houston Food Bank and Associate Program Manager Jordan Pacelli Everett with Prevention Institute published an Op-Ed in the Houston Chronicle on the upcoming [...]
Spring Is Here – and So Are Elections!
With the start of a new season the weather changes, flowers bloom, and the sun comes out. However, as the seasons change one thing will stay constant – elections. May [...]
Houston Food Bank Welcomed Bill Ludwig, Regional Administrator, USDA FNS Region, Amid Disaster-Relief Efforts
On Wednesday, May 29, Houston Food Bank welcomed Bill Ludwig, regional administrator for the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) Southwest Region for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) [...]
Spring Is Here – and So Are Elections!
With the start of a new season the weather changes, flowers bloom, and the sun comes out. However, as the seasons change one thing will stay constant - elections. [...]
Houston Food Bank Government Relations Update
Houston Food Bank represents food banks on the American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) board that brings together agriculture, food manufacturers and processors, state agencies and schools to support the distribution [...]
Rent Eats First
In the financial hierarchy of many households’ budgets, rent is the priority. And with rent taking up the lion's share of many household budgets forcing families to make due with [...]
2023 Rewind!
December comes around and many of us start to reflect on what the past 12 months have been for us. At the Houston Food Bank (HFB) much growth has occurred [...]
If Passed, Propositions 2 & 4
If passed, Propositions 2 & 4 Hello Neighbors! As you may know we currently have a state-wide election going on. Below we have an explanation for two items you will [...]
No Tricks, Just Treats
No Tricks, Just Treats There are no tricks here, just treats! As the Fall season comes to us at full swing it is evident that change is brewing, [...]
Making Your Voice Heard
Making Your Voice Heard Let’s talk about the upcoming elections… And I know what you’re probably thinking… “Why bother?” “Politicians don’t care about my community.” Well, what would [...]
Government Relations: 88th Texas Legislative Wins!
And the 88th Texas Legislative Session has come to an end! Our neighbors had many wins this session, and we are excited to see the positive impact these policies [...]
Food for Thought: Building Better Lives Through Nutrition
March was National Nutrition Month, a time when we were encouraged to learn about good nutrition and ways to develop healthy eating habits. When equipped with that knowledge, you [...]
Take Action Now
Help Texas improve SNAP accuracy
What have you done to advocate for your community?
Get in touch with your Elected Officials
Your advocacy helps our communities. You can read our neighbor’s stories of hope and how Houston Food Bank and our partners empower their lives.
Reports and Articles
Where Affordable Housing and Transportation Meet in Houston. Link Houston & Rice University Kinder Institute for Urban Research, 2024
ALICE Wage Tool. United For ALICE, 2026
Low Income Housing Information Service. Texas Housers, 2025
Health and Human Services. Texas 2036, 2024
