Years ago I participated in an effort called the Food Stamp Challenge. It was an effort to help people understand the limitations of food stamps including what you can and cannot buy, and how difficult it can be just to make it through a month on the amount of funding you receive.

Recently, I thought about trying this again and writing about it in a monthly email. In order to plan this, I started to look at my calendar to find 30 consecutive days when I was not involved in meetings or events where I received free meals or food. The truth is, I couldn’t do it. I am so privileged in my life and work that I often eat for free and bring free food home.

I am not trying to discourage anyone who is interested in trying the Food Stamp Challenge themselves to learn what others experience (especially if you want to understand the new employment/volunteer requirements necessary to get food stamps). But the exercise helped me realize that I had a more important and personal issue to discuss—my own privilege.

Because of my job, my family and my friends, I eat lots of lovely free meals. Because I live in St. Matthews and own a car, I buy my groceries in large grocery stores and discount places where my money goes much further than a corner store in downtown Louisville. In fact, I compared a recent $41 grocery purchase to the costs in a corner store downtown. Not only were my options more limited, but my cost (even without being able to purchase lettuce) went to $65.

And my neighborhood and my homeownership give me even more advantages. I purchased my home in 2010 and—thanks to property valuations in my neighborhood—my home is valued at $130,000 more than I paid for it, while similar homes in many neighborhoods have had no value increase or very little. Because I can afford to buy my home, I am earning the equity and increased value I just discussed, but I also have taken both a federal and state deduction each year on my taxes, putting another $2,000 per year in my pocket. I do not worry about my personal safety when I walk through my neighborhood, and both my auto and home owner insurance are cheaper due to my address even though the values are higher.

The fact that I received a college degree (when the cost was only $600 per quarter) means I started out making an average of $17,000 more per year than someone who does not have the same degree, and that will reach an income difference of $1 million over my lifetime. And I do not have the average debt of $28,900 of those who attended college more recently. I am also healthy and grew up in a neighborhood with no major environmental concerns. 

And the truth is, if I look outside my community, my privilege is even greater. Only 5% of the world’s population owns a computer. 27% of people in India (and even fewer in many African countries) owns a refrigerator.

I have worked hard to be a good person and save for the future, but I have had a lot of help and good fortune that has brought me to where I am. The reality is that most don't share my good fortune, so being thankful is not enough. 

We live in a society in which the odds are stacked against too many. It is important for each of us to participate in creating an equitable society for all. For many of us, that means learning to recognize when our own good fortune comes at the expense of our neighbors' and then to have the fortitude to do something about it. 

We can all give to those who have not had the same advantages, but it is even more important to work to change systems that disadvantage those with less, and to speak up when others place blame on the poor for their lack of privilege and opportunity.

Natalie

About Us

The Coalition for the Homeless's mission is to prevent and end homelessness in Louisville through advocacy, education, and the coordination of our 31 member agencies. We have been the lead advocate for Louisville's homeless since 1986, when we were founded after several people died on Louisville's streets.

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