“Whatever It Takes to Put Food in My Stomach”: Food Insecurity Among Homeless Young Adults

Background:A better understanding of the intersection of housing/homelessness and health issues is critical to achieving several of social work’s grand challenges, including closing the health gap, ending homelessness, and ensuring healthy development for all youth. Food insecurity is a fundamental health challenge for many vulnerable populations in the U.S., including young adults experiencing homelessness. However, little research has focused on homeless young adults’ experiences of food insecurity and food access strategies. This qualitative study examined the occurrence of food insecurity among homeless young adults and their use of benefits and services to facilitate food access, in order to inform best practices with this population.

Methods: Participants for this cross-sectional study were recruited from community settings in Buffalo, NY, including a homeless youth drop-in center, the street, and through word-of-mouth, yielding a diverse sample of young adults (age 18-24) living on the street/places not meant for human habitation, in overnight shelters, or couch surfing. 30 participants completed a standardized food insecurity scale, demographic questionnaire, and semi-structured interview. Interview transcripts were independently coded in Atlas.ti by two researchers using a grounded theory approach and constant comparative method to identify key themes related to the experience of food insecurity, food access, and use of programs and services. Six participants participated in member checking to provide feedback on the themes, which were subsequently refined by the researchers.

Results: Per scores on the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale, 80% of participants experienced severe food insecurity. Most participants used a combination of food access strategies, including free meal programs (e.g. soup kitchens and food pantries), purchasing food with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits or money, scavenging food from the trash, and stealing food. Participants relied mainly on illicit or under-the-table activities (e.g. selling drugs, doing odd jobs, braiding hair) to earn money for food and other necessities; only 17% reported wage earnings. A major barrier to the use of benefits and services included participants being told they were not eligible for SNAP due to being listed as dependents on their guardians’ benefits. Participants also discussed feeling embarrassed to use free meal programs and not wanting to identify with the older homeless populations who use these programs.

Conclusions: Food insecurity appears to be a common and often severe problem for homeless young adults. Policy and practice changes are needed to improve homeless young adults’ food access, concurrent with addressing their housing and other social service needs. The study results indicate a greater need for youth-focused services, such as youth drop-in centers where staff could help young adults apply for SNAP benefits and provide free meals onsite, in addition to assisting young adults in accessing housing. Policy changes are also needed to facilitate young adults’ ability to appeal their status as dependents on guardians’ SNAP benefits (when their guardians are not actually housing or caring for the youth) and to help homeless young adults gain access to education and employment opportunities to generate sustainable incomes.