title: Is something better than nothing? Food insecurity and eating patterns of young people experiencing homelessness.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Food insecurity is an increasing problem in marginalised groups that affects diet quality. We aimed to examine the extent of food insecurity and the eating patterns of young people accessing support from specialist homelessness services.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional survey with a researcher-administered food frequency and food insecurity questionnaire was undertaken with 50 young people experiencing homelessness, aged 14-26 years. Participants were recruited from 11 specialist homelessness services providing support and accommodation for young people in central and south-western Sydney.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Food insecurity was a recent experience for 70% of participants. Eighty-five per cent of participants living independently experienced food insecurity, compared to 66% of young people in supported accommodation. Consumption of core food groups was low, as almost all participants did not meet recommended daily servings of vegetables and breads and cereals. Consumption of sugar-sweetened soft drinks was high.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Food insecurity and poor diet quality are salient issues for this group of young people accessing support from specialist homelessness services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings highlight the need for a greater focus on advocacy and policy action to increase social supports and improve food security and nutrition for young people experiencing homelessness.
authors.affiliation: NSW Public Health Officer Training Program, NSW Ministry of Health, New South Wales.|School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crawford
authors.affiliation: Community Health Service, Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Rowena
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamazaki
authors.affiliation: Youth Health Service, South Western Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Elise
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Franke
authors.affiliation: Community Health Service, Sydney Local Health District, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amanatidis
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences and Psychology, University of Western Sydney, New South Wales.
authors.forename: Jioji
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ravulo
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health and Community Medicine, UNSW Medicine, University of New South Wales.
authors.forename: Siranda
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torvaldsen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005523:Food Supply / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006703:Ill-Housed Persons; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011203:Poverty; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diet quality; food insecurity; homeless young people