Food Scarcity Related PTSD and Prevention

 Most of us are aware of the negative impacts homelessness and poverty can have on an individual. Individuals living in poverty pose a higher risk of having physical and mental health issues, lack of access to proper healthcare, housing instability, and food insecurity to name a few. It is common knowledge that poverty and homelessness are difficult experiences to overcome, however it is less common knowledge that this increased difficultly often leads to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is associated with increased anxiety caused by a change in the body's response to stress that can occur after an experienced trauma. Trauma has a very broad definition. Although it is highlighted by experiences that are linked with a threat of injury or death, emotionally painful or distressing situations can lead to trauma as well. Many situations experienced during homelessness have the capability of causing PTSD, but an important one that is not often thought about is the stress disorder associated with a food insecurity.

Long-term Outcomes of Food Insecurity 

Proper, sufficient food and nutrition is essential for survival. Food insecurity is defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food to live a healthy life. Families and individuals that struggle to get enough food on the table are more likely to experience anxiety, depression and stress disorder. An individual who does not have enough food experiences many physical and mental health challenges as a result of being hungry.

Not having enough food for your family is a stressful experience for any parent. Even in situations where the parent is able to provide food for the child, they are unable to eat and are left hungry, which often leads to a more irritable temperament that is expressed to the child and leads to adverse childhood experiences and childhood trauma. It is a hard situation no matter how you look at it; it is hard on both the child and the parent or any individual that has to experience hunger. The only solution is prevention. 

Solutions and Prevention 

The best way to prevent the negative outcomes of food insecurity is to prevent food insecurity in the first place by establishing accessible food sources for those living in poverty and the homeless community. There are federal resources available such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and WIC (Women, Infant and Children) programs, as well as more situation specific programs that can be accessed here. 

In addition to federal resources there are local food banks, pantries and meal assistance programs in place to help fight hunger and address the needs of food insecure communities. Food pantries do not only support the individuals in need of donations, but supports the community around it by providing jobs to locals, helping communities become self-sustaining, and by encouraging healthy eating habits. Ensuring that these resources persevere and thrive ensures access to healthy foods for those in need. Whether you would like to apply, volunteer, or if you're in need this holiday season food pantries near you can be found here.

Challenges to Getting Proper Nutrition to Those in Need

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t’s hard enough for those of us who have a regular income and shelter to eat a proper healthy diet. But for the unhoused there are challenges that go far beyond the norm. It’s not about having the willpower to eat an apple and some carrots instead of a chocolate bar or Doritos; it’s about not even having the choice, if you get to eat at all. Two of the major problems that the unhoused and low-income face are poor quality shelter food and food deserts.

Photo by Steve Knutson on Unsplash

These aren't issues most people even think about. “The diets and nutrition of homeless populations receive negligible attention as a public health issue,” says Deviana W. Dewi, a research assistant with Johns Hopkins’ Global Food Ethics & Policy Program. While the people at shelters and soup kitchens do much needed work in getting the unhoused fed, there is often a problem with the food being low quality. Homeless diets are often comprised of foods “high in saturated fat and deficient in fibre and certain micronutrients,” according to the Cambridge University Press. But this isn’t by choice. “We need to debunk the common belief that individuals experiencing homelessness have the tendency to desire junk foods,” says Dewi. In her research, she found that many of the unhoused requested vegetarian meals that were unavailable. We all need to make the obvious connection that poor diet results in poor health. It’s no surprise that the houseless tend to have a higher rate of chronic illnesses and receive poorer quality healthcare than most. 

What can we do? For one, the quality of food can be improved regardless of budget. According to Advent Health, “plenty of healthy foods are inexpensive, such as dried beans, eggs, whole grains, and some vegetables and fruits.” In addition, Dewi suggests that educating the cooks, food donors, and even patrons of shelters could go a long way in improving the quality of the meals served. 

Another roadblock with getting proper nutrition to the unhoused and those with low income is the existence of food deserts. Jeremy Ney at the Social Policy Data Lab calculates that 23.5 million Americans live in a food desert, which is defined as a community where a quality food source is too far away. In urban areas, it is one mile; in rural areas, ten miles. It may not seem far if you have a vehicle, but most homeless and many low-income families do not. Often there is not even reliable public transportation. And it’s not just supermarkets, says Move for Hunger, it also includes “access to a food pantry or food-sharing program.” Funding for food pantries comes from the local, state, and federal governments, but it is determined by population density. This means that rural communities get far less support, and the available healthy options are fewer and farther away.

To add fuel to the flame of poor health, in addition to the lack of healthy options nearby, Newsweek reports that a more appropriate name for food deserts, according to health advocates, is “food swamps.” Many of these communities have an abundance of fast food restaurants and convenience stores keeping the locals filled up on fried foods and Red Bulls. When it’s inconvenient and costs too much to get to a grocery store—and sometimes even the prices at those grocery stores are far too high—people “go to fast food chains that are cheaper or closer to home,” says Ney. 

Is there a solution? Move for Hunger says “the government will have to fund federal food-aid, rather than cut spending” in order to bring more markets and pantries to these underserved areas. But others are taking matters into their own hands. Newsweek says that grassroots organizers and public health advocates are working hard to bring “farmers' markets, community gardens, food canning classes, and farm-to-school projects” to these deserts to revitalize their nutrition intake and create healthier and longer lives. 

It will take a gargantuan effort to make any dramatic change, however. We all need to do our part. Leave a comment below and let us know how you might help solve these issues. The smallest action could have a great impact. 

If you’re in the Portland area, and you’d like a little nudge in the right direction, here is a list of resources to get you started. 

Portland Teachers Strike Threatens Food Insecure Families Most

 The Portland Association of Teachers (PAT) has threatened to go on strike starting November 1st if their demands are not met by The Portland Public School Board. Negotiations have been focused on more planning time for teachers, as well as a larger cost of living increase. The latest reports are that there is a 60 million dollar separation between the district's offer and the PAT's demands. 99% of the PAT voted to strike in what would be the first strike in PPS history. Portland Public Schools employs about 4,500 teachers and staff that provide the education for around 50,000 students.  With an indefinite hiatus looming, parents are having to plan for a major schedule change for both child care and food access.

Initial reports from the negotiations stated that PPS would provide grab and go breakfast and lunch on school campus, as well as keeping Marshall Campus open by appointment for clothing services for students. A more recent report clarifies that food will only be available on some of the school campuses  from Tuesday through Thursday during the week, from 11:30-1pm. The ability for kids to access these meals is also in question: according to PPS 2,300 students rely on school buses to get to and from school on a daily basis. Information on if the buses will still run is hard to come by. Reports from negotiations have not covered it and calls to the PPS transportation department have been unreturned. These buses would need to run in order for the 2,300 students to access the three day a week meal supply. Even for students who don't rely on school buses, the tight window in the middle of the day might be hard to make for many families, especially if the school they attend isn't one serving food.

Even with some meals covered at school, families facing food insecurity are negatively affected by school shutdowns. Parents of young students are forced to either find childcare, or sacrifice time and energy towards work. Both can effect their earning ability. A schedule disruption can also hinder a parent's ability to secure food at food banks or food pantries in the city. The added pressure of childcare shrinks already tight margins. Studies from school closures during the Covid pandemic confirm worries about food access when services are limited. As per usual, the most vulnerable populations suffer most when services are reduced.

If PPS fail to meet the terms of the teachers union, they will be putting at risk thousands of students by reducing their access to healthy food, not to mention safe refuge though out the day, mental stimulation, education, and potentially transportation. The longer the potential strike, the more severely the ramifications will be felt. 

Removing the Stigma from SNAP

Food assistance programs, particularly SNAP (or as many still call, it food stamps), are a lifeline for millions of Americans. However, despite its essential role in protecting the health of a large portion of the population, the program often finds itself in a sea of misconceptions and unearned stigma.

Since 2013, increases in SNAP usage are reaching beyond urban centers and into affluent suburbs. Economic downturns (like the Great Recession or the Covid-19 pandemic) it turns out, don't discriminate. However, while SNAP's demographics might be diversifying, old perceptions harder to shake off, and although this conversation is not a new one (as evidenced by articles from ten years ago) it remains a pervasive issue that beneficiaries must endure. 

As recently as 2019, many recipients of SNAP benefits reported feeling marginalized and devalued by society, and facing assumptions that they are lazy, dependent, or taking advantage of the system. This stigmatization often manifests in public settings, like grocery stores, or even through interactions with officials administering the program. These negative interactions often lead to feelings of shame and humiliation among participants.

SNAP benefit amounts have been increased by historic amounts over the last few years. 

Creator: John Moore | Credit: Getty Images | Copyright: 2013 Getty Images

These negative feelings matter, and subtle shifts in framing can make significant differences. For example, by tweaking how rental assistance (a similarly stigmatized benefit) was described, interest in the program rose by 36%. It’s only about rebranding. It is also about addressing deeply entrenched stereotypes. The challenge here is very real: break past the societal norms that brand beneficiaries as "lazy" or "undeserving", presenting these programs as the essential lifelines they truly are. Even the term "food stamps" carries baggage. Although the program's official name changed to SNAP over a decade ago in an effort to shed its negative connotations, the older term is still used in discourse, a testament to the ingrained thought surrounding it.

Economic disparities are becoming increasingly pervasive and the conversation surrounding SNAP and similar programs needs a radical shift. Rather than seeing them through the lens of outdated prejudices, it's crucial to view these programs as reflections of our society's commitment to its most vulnerable members, a population that continues to grow year after year. The essence of SNAP isn't about handouts but about extending a helping-hand during tough times. As the demographics of beneficiaries expand, it's time the narrative finally evolves too, moving from judgment to understanding, and from stereotypes to solidarity.