Food deserts
and care deserts.
Two overlapping crises affecting millions of Americans — and the communities that need support most.
Source: USDA Economic Research Service — Food Access Research Atlas
No grocery store.
No healthy options.
Food deserts are low-income communities more than one mile from a full-service supermarket. Residents are forced to rely on convenience stores, dollar stores, and fast food — driving higher A1C levels, diabetes, and heart disease.
The impact is not evenly distributed. Communities of color and low-income neighborhoods bear the brunt — a direct legacy of historical disinvestment and discriminatory policy.
Caregiving alone,
without support.
Care deserts are communities where caregiving support is inadequate or inaccessible. Family caregivers navigate complex health systems alone, without resources, training, or respite.
The burden falls disproportionately on women and people of color. Unpaid caregivers provide $470 billion in care annually — and receive almost nothing in return.
The consequences
are measurable.
Life expectancy gap between food desert communities and others
Significantly elevated blood sugar levels in affected communities
Elevated diabetes and heart disease rates compared to national average
Birmingham's population living in food deserts — the highest in the U.S.
Where we begin.
BirminghamAlabama
Highest food desert concentration in the U.S., with severe health disparities in Black communities.
ChicagoIllinois
Half of grocery stores closed in recent years, leaving entire neighborhoods without fresh food.
DetroitMichigan
Persistent food insecurity despite urban agriculture initiatives across the city.
AlbanyNew York
Dollar General replaced a full-service grocery store, eliminating healthy food options downtown.
NashvilleTennessee
Major grocery closures disproportionately affecting North Nashville communities.
FresnoCalifornia
Urban food deserts persist despite agricultural production surrounding the city.
Why these communities
are underserved.
Market incentives exclude low-income communities
Retailers prioritize affluent areas for higher margins. Low-income communities are deprioritized — not due to lack of need, but lack of perceived purchasing power.
Redlining left a geographic legacy
Historical housing discrimination created patterns of disinvestment that persist today. Current food desert maps overlay almost perfectly with 1930s redlining maps.
Transportation creates a hidden barrier
Without cars or reliable transit, residents face hour-long journeys to reach a full-service grocery store. The result: reliance on corner stores and fast food.
Dollar stores are not a solution
When dollar stores replace full-service grocers, they offer processed foods and almost no fresh produce — creating the illusion of access while perpetuating the crisis.
Food deserts and care deserts overlap. The solution must too.
CareLink addresses both crises simultaneously — recognizing that food security and caregiver support are inseparable.
See the CareLink Model