Program Description
Program Title: Nutrition One (N1): Alleviating Food Insecurity for Vulnerable Households and Their Companion Animals
Opportunity Number: N1-AL-JC-2021
Agency Name: RESCUES ON85TH
Program Purpose:
The Nutrition One (N1) program directly addresses food insecurity in vulnerable households by providing essential nutritional resources for both families and their companion animals. By ensuring access to high-quality food for all members of the household, N1 alleviates financial strain, improves household stability, and promotes well-being. This innovative program recognizes the interconnected needs of families and their companion animals, providing holistic support to those experiencing financial hardship.
Program Overview
1. Tackling Food Insecurity:
Households experiencing financial difficulty often struggle to provide adequate food for both themselves and their companion animals. Many families are forced to share their own food or forgo other essential expenses, such as rent or medications, to ensure their animals are fed. By offering a supplemental food program for companion animals, N1 reduces these pressures, allowing families to redirect limited resources to meet their own nutritional and financial needs.
2. Addressing Vulnerable Populations:
The program specifically targets households at heightened risk of food insecurity, including:
Low-Income Families: Those struggling to meet basic needs.
Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities: Households where companion animals serve as critical sources of emotional and therapeutic support.
Elderly Individuals: Seniors who rely on companion animals for emotional connection and routine.
Survivors of Domestic Violence: Families rebuilding their lives with the support of companion animals.
3. Holistic Approach to Well-Being:
By ensuring companion animals receive proper nutrition, N1 preserves the emotional bonds between families and their animals. These bonds contribute to improved mental health, reduced stress, and increased resilience in the face of financial hardship.
4. Financial Relief for Households:
The program alleviates food insecurity by reducing the financial burden associated with caring for companion animals. This enables households to allocate more resources to essential expenses, such as:
Utilities and housing costs.
Prescription medications and healthcare.
Transportation and job-related needs.
Eligibility Requirements
Demonstrated Financial Hardship: Households must show evidence of low income, unemployment, or other factors contributing to food insecurity.
Responsible Animal Care Practices: Participants must commit to maintaining the health and well-being of their companion animals, including spaying/neutering and vaccinations.
Geographical Service Area: Applicants must reside within Jefferson County, Alabama.
Application Documentation: Required materials include proof of financial hardship, household information, and details/photos of companion animals.
Application Process
Step 1: Complete an application online through the RESCUES ON85TH website or by contacting the program office directly.
Step 2: Provide verification of household income and companion animal ownership, including photos and estimated birthdates.
Step 3: Commit to program requirements, including maintaining responsible animal care and adhering to program guidelines.
Program Benefits
Improved Household Nutrition: Ensures families can focus on their own nutritional needs without compromising the care of their companion animals.
Strengthened Family Stability: Reduces financial strain, enabling families to meet critical needs like housing and healthcare.
Enhanced Mental and Emotional Health: Sustains the bonds between families and their companion animals, which are vital for emotional resilience.
Expanded Access: A mobile food pantry and delivery service address transportation barriers for families in Jefferson County, Alabama.
Food Insecurity Impact
The Nutrition One (N1) program uniquely addresses food insecurity by:
Reducing the need for families to share their own food with animals.
Filling gaps in existing food assistance programs, which often exclude companion animal needs.
Supporting vulnerable populations who depend on companion animals for emotional and medical well-being.
This approach ensures no member of the household—human or animal—is left behind, fostering healthier, more stable communities.