Government Relations
Government Relations
How does Government Relations Impact Communities?
The Government Relations department shares the expertise and experiences of Houston Food Bank staff, partners, and neighbors with policymakers to help address the root causes of hunger and poverty. We also educate and engage the broader community, encouraging action and support for policies that strengthen access to food, health, housing, and economic security.
Join us in our mission and sign up for the Action Center.
What does the Government Relations team do?
Our Policy Roadmap
Why Food Insecurity Persists and How We Fix It
Too many families cannot consistently afford enough nutritious food to sustain their health. Why? Because systems do not reward hard-working families or help them to be self-reliant in times of economic downturns.
To create lasting change, private and public sectors need to help restore access to strong paychecks, affordable housing, and quality health care. Without these changes, families and the churches, nonprofits, and other organizations who help them are caught in revolving doors as families are dependent on services and have to choose between paying for rent, medical care, and utilities over nutritious food.
These decisions come with consequences—declining health, lost economic opportunities, and dependence on government support rather than self-sufficiency.
Meet our Government Relations team
Katherine
The vision of A World That Doesn’t Need Food Banks drew me to working at the Houston Food Bank. Leading the Government Relations Department provides an opportunity to work on laws and regulations that keep families from succeeding. I love working alongside the communities the Houston Food Bank serves to help them step into their power and making sure elected officials have the right information to make good decisions about the people they serve.
Carolina
My passion for policy and advocacy comes from a commitment to serving and strengthening communities, and Houston Food Bank has given me the opportunity to do both. Ending hunger requires more than food alone. It means addressing the root causes that families face every day, including financial instability and housing insecurity. Through collaboration and shared advocacy, we can help create lasting policy solutions that move us closer to a future where food banks are no longer needed. In this work, I am committed to learning from and working alongside our internal teams, distribution partners, external stakeholders, and most importantly, our neighbors. Together, we can help build a community where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Aunjel
Civic engagement is the lifeblood of a healthy community. The Houston Food Bank believes that everyone deserves access to nutritious food and works tirelessly to ensure that our neighbors have the resources they need to thrive. By engaging with our elected officials and neighbors, we can amplify our impact and create a more equitable food system for all. I’m passionate about empowering individuals to become advocates for change, and I invite you to join us in the fight against hunger.
Miranda
Every person has the ability to shape the future of their community. That belief fuels my passion for civic engagement, helping neighbors recognize the strength of their own voices and the impact they can make when they speak up for healthier communities and better futures. At Houston Food Bank, we view advocacy not just as a tool, but as a pathway to lasting change. By empowering individuals to raise their voices and act collectively, we help build stronger and more resilient communities where everyone belongs and every voice matters.
