Food Insecurity as a Cause of Homeless Exhaustion

 

Photo of a food drive at a woman's shelter. Source: https://nara.getarchive.net/media/from-left-to-right-gerry-salas-environmental-engineer-dece7e

By Nicole Johnson | August 9, 2025

When talking about restoring dignity and ending exhaustion for those living on the street, the focus is often on housing solutions and addiction counseling. For many, however, the constant struggle for food is a far more pressing issue. According to the Oregon Food Bank, “1 in 8 people and 1 in 6 kids in Oregon and Southwest Washington face food insecurity” (Oregon Food Bank, 2025). Hunger and malnutrition are serious, pervasive issues that leave the body both mentally and physically exhausted. As homelessness and starvation often go hand in hand, minimizing the impact of food insecurity makes other forms of intervention less humane. A greater emphasis must be placed on establishing accessible access to nutritious meals before individuals can benefit from housing, healthcare, and other long-term solutions.

Food Insecurity is an Immediate Crisis

Food is essential for physical wellbeing. Without a consistent flow of calories, protein, vitamins, and nutrition, the body begins to break down. According to the Institute of Global Homeless, immediate causes of malnutrition include “dizziness, cracked lips, difficulty walking, and low blood pressure, organ failure, decreased ability to heal cuts, scratches, and other injuries” (DePaul University, n.d.). As one starves, their energy levels plummet and even basic tasks like walking and standing become exhausting to impossible. Within weeks, a lack of adequate access to nutrition can lead to pneumonia, hypothermia, and ultimately death.

Just as food insecurity can have negative physical outcomes, it can have negative emotional and mental outcomes as well. Starvation triggers the body’s stress response, leading to a rise in cortisol levels. This has several negative outcomes including memory impairment, a struggle to focus, and an increase in depressive symptoms. According to a study published by the National Library of Medicine, there is an “association between some mental health conditions and food insecurity among homeless adults” (Loftus, Lachaud, Hwang, & Meja-Lancheros, 2020). The study noted a direct correlation in rates of depression, psychiatric hospitalizations, and suicide attempts in houseless individuals experiencing starvation.

Help End Starvation Today

Food insecurity is not an unsolvable problem. Writing to government agencies like the Portland City Council and petitioning for food aid is a meaningful way of becoming an advocate. For those with time and financial means, consider volunteering or donating to local shelters fighting starvation. The Oregon Food Bank runs numerous programs that provide fresh produce and pantry staples to individuals and families in need. For youth under 18 facing homelessness, New Avenues for Youth provides meals and groceries along with temporary housing solutions. These programs are actively fighting starvation but need assistance to operate. Food is a human right and your input can help sustain and expand these vital services, ensuring that no one in our community stuffers from starvation.

 

Make Your Voice Heard

Write to the Portland City Council

 

Donate & Volunteer

Oregon Food Bank

New Avenues for Youth

 

References

DePaul University. (n.d.). Advocating for international homelessness policy focused on definition and measurement. Retrieved from Ruff Institute of Global Homelessness: https://ighomelessness.org/

Loftus, E., Lachaud, J., Hwang, S., & Meja-Lancheros, C. (2020, July 22). Food insecurity and mental health outcomes among homeless adults: a scoping review. Retrieved from National Library of Medicine: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10195420/

Oregon Food Bank. (2025, May 14). Oregon Hunger Facts. Retrieved from Oregon Food Bank: https://www.oregonfoodbank.org/posts/oregon-hunger-facts