Food Insecurity among Homeless Adults with Mental Illness

The prevalence of food insecurity and food insufficiency is high among homeless people. We investigated the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among a cohort of homeless adults with mental illness in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Data collected from baseline questionnaires in the Vancouver At Home study were analysed to calculate the prevalence of food insecurity within the sample (n = 421). A modified version of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Adult Food Security Survey Module was used to ascertain food insecurity. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine potential correlates of food insecurity.

The prevalence of food insecurity was 64%. In the multivariable model, food insecurity was significantly associated with age (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.95-0.99), less than high school completion (aOR = 0.57; 95% CI: 0.35-0.93), needing health care but not receiving it (aOR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.00-2.72), subjective mental health (aOR = 0.97; 95% CI: 0.96-0.99), having spent over $500 for drugs and alcohol in the past month (aOR = 2.25; 95% CI: 1.16-4.36), HIV/AIDS (aOR = 4.20; 95% CI: 1.36-12.96), heart disease (aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.16-0.97) and having gone to a drop-in centre, community meal centre or program/food bank (aOR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.01-2.68).

The prevalence of food insecurity was extremely high in a cohort with longstanding homelessness and serious mental illness. Younger age, needing health care but not receiving it, poorer subjective mental health, having spent over $500 for drugs and alcohol in the past month, HIV/AIDS and having gone to a drop-in centre, community meal centre or program/food bank each increased odds of food insecurity, while less than high school completion and heart disease each decreased odds of food insecurity. Interventions to reduce food insecurity in this population are urgently needed.