Introduction 

     When it comes to cities and urban life, many are aware that there is a high population of those in poverty as well as high levels of disorganization and crime.  Yet, these same people fail to acknowledge the structural issues causing this poverty and the reasons many are stuck in it, no matter their efforts to leave.  Organizations, such as 412 Food Rescue, have tried to aid the populations living in impoverished areas, however, it's not enough. Delivering food donations is a great way to help those who can't afford to feed themselves or their family, but it will do little to reduce the issues of poverty as food insecurity is only a piece of the puzzle.  

    Participating in a rescue myself has shown me the flaws in our system that limit opportunity for those in need. For my rescue, I was to pick up 5 boxes of assorted produce from a Shop N' Save. The produce included but was not limited to apples, green beans, spinach, cauliflower, and cilantro. I then had to drive 20 minutes to Homewood North to deliver the boxes at the Housing Authority Office. While on my route, I was able to take pictures and observe the community to then connect what I saw to sociological concepts that will aid in their understanding. 

A. The concept this picture illustrates is social vulnerability. Social Vulnerability is the result of a group that is exposed to complex social forces like discrimination, residential segregation, limited access to resources, etc, over long periods of time on an everyday basis (Fitzpatrick et al. 2020). In other terms, vulnerability is a "result of marginality" that reduces public health because of the different and unequal experiences these groups are subject to. 

B.  This picture was taken Friday morning in Penn Hills, on my way to deliver food to Homewood North. As can be seen, the area is deserted with a closed-down gas station and a tiny, run-down, autobody shop. There are a few buildings here and there in the background, but nothing of major importance, and many looked neglected. There was not much in this area and it continued to be that way the entire drive to Homewood North. 

C. I took this picture because it illustrated clear residential segregation from the pick-up location to the drop-off location.  While the pick-up location wasn't the nicest place, there were houses, stores, and gas stations everywhere. It was more populated and convenient to access. As i got closer to Homewood North, the area became less populated and offered limited resources. The neighborhood was also considerably far from any type of "town", if what is shown in the picture can be considered that. This shows the vulnerability of those that live in these areas because they seem to be pushed to the outskirts with little to nothing to depend on.  

D. This picture can tell us that the neighborhoods and the residents in this area are most likely living in poor conditions and often have to go out of their way to receive services or simple groceries. This is especially problematic for those who don't have a mode of transportation as it did not seem like a city bus ran in this part of Pittsburgh. There also doesn't seem to be a sense of community as many neighborhoods are far apart from each other, so building relationships is difficult or unattainable.

A. The concept this picture illustrates is social disorganization. Social Disorganization is a framework that links rates of crime and delinquency to specific areas based on certain characteristics and factors that limit the neighborhood and residents' ability to solve problems and perform effective social control (Tibbetts and Hemmons 2009).  Factors that are used to define the state of social disorganization are physical dilapidation, heterogeneity, low-economic status, and residential instability (increased mobility).

B. This picture is of a dilapidated house right next to the entrance of a Homewood North neighborhood and the Housing Authority office. There is clearly trash and miscellaneous items thrown about in this photo, as well as a random brick on the collapsing roof. In the outside frame of this photo, there are other battered houses, including one that is completely abandoned with a condemnation notice on the front. Up the hill a few feet is also a fence, with a random shopping cart next to it, that is blocking off a large ditch that leads to another street below. However, it is broken and leaning like someone had hit it with a car. 

C. I took a picture of this because the physical dilapidation is a clear result of social disorganization. The house is in an area of public housing where there is constantly an influx of low-income people moving in and out. So, there is no long-lasting community relationship being built because there is no stability. There are also high levels of gang activity and violent crime in Homewood North and Alleghany county as a whole, emphasizing the presence of disorganization. The FBI's Crime Data Explorer estimates over 600 violent crimes were reported in 2018, 2019, and 2020 in Alleghany county.  

D. This picture can show us that the residents of Homewood North and the neighborhood, in general, have very little care for the aesthetic of their community. This is because aesthetics are the least of their worries. They do not have the money or social cohesiveness to deal with physical dilapidation or to organize effectively and promote social control that will limit crime and delinquent activity in adults and youth.  It should be up to the city of Pittsburgh or the county to prioritize these areas and make sure its low-income residents live in a healthy and safe space. If those in public housing were exposed to better opportunities and conditions, crime rates would decrease.

A. This picture portrays the concept of a food desert. A food desert is defined as a geographic area that lacks affordable, healthy food options due to a lack of grocery stores within a convenient traveling distance ("Access to Affordable and Nutritious Food", 2009).

B. This picture is of one of the five boxes of food I had to deliver to Homewood North. The produce came from a small Shop N' Save about 20 minutes away. Specifically, these are the apples they gave me as a donation. Outside of the frame is all of the other products including spinach, green beans, and cauliflower. 

C. I took a picture of these apples because you can see how bruised and almost rotten they are. For one of the only grocery stores I saw on my way to Homewood North, the product is not spectacular. This illustrates the concept of food deserts because while residents are being given healthy options, they are almost too bad to eat. So, can that really be included in the definition of a healthy food option? There is clearly no standard to the expiration date of food that can be donated. The grocery store was also 20 minutes away, with only gas station-type convenience stores and small bars near Homewood North, so residents really do not have access to healthy options in an efficient traveling distance. 

D. This picture tells us that the residents and the neighborhood of Homewood North are not cared for as they should be. If these people are being given bottom shelf, close to expiration, food, how is this rescue helping them? If anything, it allows these neighborhoods to lose hope and enhances their struggle of food insecurity and poverty. The idea that because someone is poor, they will take any food given to them no matter the quality, widens and further dehumanizes those living impoverished.  This picture emphasizes the dehumanizing qualities of charity and how those who are seen as weak (often the poor and minoritized) are not given the chance to prove their strength. To prove that they are a worthy individual of a specific standard of quality of life and opportunity!