Food Insecurity and Related Problems Among Homeless and Runaway Youth

Abstract

This chapter focuses on street youth’s survival strategies associated with obtaining food while on the streets and the problems associated with food insecurity. In this chapter, the prevalence of food insecurity, the social meanings associated with food insecurity, the street youth’s hoarding behaviors, dietary intake patterns, use of food sources, food-obtaining strategies, types of accommodations, the amount of time since leaving home, social network characteristics, history of abuse and neglect, and related behaviors are presented. This chapter discusses the street youth’s obstacles in obtaining food such as poor health, limited food availability, and lack of clean environments. In this chapter, other factors that may increase food insecurity such as demographic characteristics, history of caretaker abuse and neglect, human trafficking, unstable housing, alcohol and other drug use and abuse, pregnancy, and lack of social networks and social support are analyzed.