The homeless experiencing food inequity
Homeless individuals and families can often struggle to find appropriate and nutritional food. As a consequence of their poor diet, their health can suffer greatly. There are many reasons why homeless people in developed and developing countries may experience food inequity. These reasons include:
- they have no access to facilities to cook or store food
- no income or financial means to meet their food needs and those of their families
- no choice in the variety or suitability of foods they consume
- they often have to take food handouts which are commonly missing out on the vital nutrients for growth and development
HOW DID THEY GET HERE?
Many homeless people start out with jobs and stable residences, but then social and economic factors intervene, causing a rapid change in their living situation. There are many reasons why people become homeless. These include loss of
employment, divorce, long-term illness. Others include domestic violence, substance abuse, institutional discharge and many other factors that make it difficult, if not impossible, for people to pay rent or make mortgage payments. The two biggest factors driving homelessness are poverty and the lack of affordable housing. Most people who become homeless live from paycheck to paycheck rather than storing money in the bank. This means that the loss of a job, an illness, or another catastrphic event can result in missed rent and then eventually to eviction or foreclosure. Also, losing jobs are now a much more common occurance then it used to be. Jobs today are not only far less secure than they were in the past, but many also pay less when considering the rate of inflation.
Homelessness if ultimately caused by a lack of money. Every single person who becomes homeless does so the same way, they all follow the same basic path. They all ended up in a situation where they didn't have enough money to pay for a place to live. Either they lost a job, spent all the money they had, or they left a home where someone else was paying the bills.
employment, divorce, long-term illness. Others include domestic violence, substance abuse, institutional discharge and many other factors that make it difficult, if not impossible, for people to pay rent or make mortgage payments. The two biggest factors driving homelessness are poverty and the lack of affordable housing. Most people who become homeless live from paycheck to paycheck rather than storing money in the bank. This means that the loss of a job, an illness, or another catastrphic event can result in missed rent and then eventually to eviction or foreclosure. Also, losing jobs are now a much more common occurance then it used to be. Jobs today are not only far less secure than they were in the past, but many also pay less when considering the rate of inflation.
Homelessness if ultimately caused by a lack of money. Every single person who becomes homeless does so the same way, they all follow the same basic path. They all ended up in a situation where they didn't have enough money to pay for a place to live. Either they lost a job, spent all the money they had, or they left a home where someone else was paying the bills.
factors contributing to homeless people
- Lack of affordable housing
- Changes in the industrial economy leading to unemployment
- Inadequate income supports
- the de-institutionalization of patients with mental health problems
- and the erosion of family and social support. Factors that increase an individual's vulnerability
- Physical or mental illness
- Disability
- Substance abuse
- Domestic violence
- Job loss