by Chantillylac McFarlan
Howard University News Service
WASHINGTON — The announcement of a new grocery store in Woodley Park on the 2800 block of Connecticut Avenue, between McDonald’s and Elsa’s Ethiopian Kitchen, is sparking interest amongst Howard University students who live in the area. They live in a food desert.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a ‘food desert’ is described as neighborhoods and communities that have limited access to affordable and healthy food options. Despite Woodley Park consisting of a myriad of restaurants stretching down Connecticut Avenue, though most are expensive and fast food options, it is an eight minute drive from the nearest supermarket, Safeway, and a 14 minute drive away from Lidl –, making students who do not have a car have to take public transportation.
Howard University leases the Washington International Student Housing (WISH) dorm in the area, leaving students two miles away from campus cafeterias and convenient stores. The university provides a shuttle service but students must follow its schedules, especially on weekends when the shuttle doesn’t leave WISH until noon.
Students residing in WISH have expressed excitement for the chance to have easy access to groceries but are concerned with the increase in prices as inflation has become a prominent topic in the 2024 Presidential Election.
Micaiah Simmons, a senior International Affairs student, said she believes traveling to the nearest supermarket is inconvenient and Howard is not doing enough for the off-campus students even with the school’s pantry. Simmons even compared eating on weekends to “The Hunger Games,” a movie and book franchise about the struggle to survive poverty and starvation.
“The nearest place is a Target but you have to take a bus for that. It costs money just to go get groceries. I haven’t done a lot of grocery shopping since I’ve been at WISH,” she said.
This is Simmons’ second year of living in WISH and said food insecurity and high grocery prices are a very important topics in this election.
“This is what the majority of Americans have to go through,” Simmons said. “Being a middle class kid, [policies affecting inflation] definitely does factor in who I’m voting for.”
The pantry, located in the Armour J. Blackburn Center on campus, opened in 2023 and is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Dr. Paris Adon, director of Howard University’s Office of Student Services, said that their primary responsibilities are the needs of Howard students and has addressed growing needs through the campus’ pantry.
“This service plays a crucial role in addressing the food insecurity many off-campus students face, particularly those who may struggle with the high cost of living in Washington, D.C., and the lack of nearby affordable food options…we can ensure that our student body has the tools and resources necessary to thrive,” Adon said.
A study done by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that food prices increased by 4.2%, in 2024 making it the largest over the year percent increase from March 2023. Food prices increased by 1.5% over a two-month period ending in July.
Acetria Graves, a senior Health Science major, said since living at WISH –, she has had to buy cheaper and unhealthy food due to the lack of nearby affordable grocery stores and still worries about prices even after the new market.
“I feel like the grocery store will still have high prices since the few grocery stores around here are priced slightly high,” sheGraves said. “Woodley Park is a more well-off area, so the prices would make sense to reflect that.”
Both Vice President Kamala Harris and Former President Donald Trump have proposed economic plans that would deal with inflation. Harris proposed a federal ban on price gouging while Trump proposed charging tariffs on imported goods.
LaMonika Jones, director of DC Hunger Solutions, an initiative started by the Food Research and Action Center, works to help educate the community about the lack of grocery access and testified before the DC Council about why programs addressing food insecurity need funding.
In order to help combat high food prices, Jones suggested that Howard students use government resources available to them.
“My suggestion is to make every concerted effort to accept SNAP and WIC.” Jones said.“Unfortunately for many students, they are not eligible for SNAP. I would also suggest grocery store owners assess their cost for food, income and other factors impacting grocery access in the District.”
The announcement was made a month ago by Commissioner Adam Prinzo, Woodley Park’s Single Member District (SMD). Conversations about the opening of the store began in October 2023. It will be an urban-style grocery store due to its small space and will be opened either later this year or early next year.
“I do think given the large population of seniors and other carless residents in Woodley Park it will be a nice addition to our neighborhood,” Prinzo said. “I think all local elected officials should be continuously pushing and advocating for their neighbors to have access to the amenities they need.”
Chantillylace McFarlan is a reporter for HUNewsService.com.
