Sustaining dignity? Food insecurity in homeless young people in urban Australia
Belinda Crawford A B G , Rowena Yamazaki C , Elise Franke D , Sue Amanatidis C , Jioji Ravulo E , Kate Steinbeck F , Jan Ritchie B and Siranda Torvaldsen BA NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, NSW Ministry of Health, Locked Bag 961, North Sydney, NSW 2059, Australia.
B School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, Level 3 Samuels Building, UNSW Australia, NSW 2052, Australia.
C Community Health Service, Sydney Local Health District, Level 9, KGV Building, Missenden Road, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
D Youth Health Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, 53–56 Mitchell Street, Carramar, NSW 2163, Australia.
E School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith, NSW 2751, Australia.
F Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: belinda.crawford@gmail.com
Health Promotion Journal of Australia 25(2) 71-78 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE13090
Submitted: 18 October 2013 Accepted: 14 May 2014 Published: 18 August 2014
Abstract
Issue addressed: Food insecurity is recognised as an increasing problem in disadvantaged and marginalised groups. The aim of this study was to investigate issues associated with food insecurity and nutrition in young people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness in metropolitan Australia.
Methods: Eight focus group discussions were conducted with 48 young people (aged between 15 and 25 years) in specialist homelessness services in central and south-western Sydney.
Results: Participants described daily experiences of food insecurity, persistent hunger and poverty. Structural barriers to food security and nutrition were identified and included poverty and reduced physical access to fresh foods. Participants also described a desire to save time, for convenience and to be socially connected. Despite the hardships and the chaos of youth homelessness, the groups were defined by their strength of character, resilience and hope for the future.
Conclusion: Homeless young people within central and south-western Sydney report varying degrees of food insecurity, despite being supported by specialist youth homelessness services.
So what?: A collaborative, multistrategic approach with youth participation is required to further enhance the capacity of youth services to improve food security, food access and the availability of nutritious foods for homeless young people. A greater focus on advocacy and policy action is also required to bring food security and nutrition to the forefront of national efforts to improve the health and welfare of disadvantaged groups.
Key words: food access, nutrition, qualitative research, youth.
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