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.