Are charitable food services meeting recipient’s needs?

Abstract

Background: Increasing individuals and families seek food relief in Western Australia with emergency relief services unable to meet demand. There are 10000 homeless in WA and 300 in inner city Perth. Little is known about how the charitable food sector (CFS) meets their users’ food needs.

Methods: In January 2016, 101 direct service recipients were recruited through adult homeless drop in centers and soup kitchens. Flyers delivered by staff or volunteers invited participation in a 38 item self-administered food survey. If needed, recipients were given food/drink as well as a $10 cash payment for their time. Descriptive statistics are reported.

Results/findings: Nine years was the average length of using CFS. Seventy-six percent were food insecure with hunger, 16% without hunger and 8% were food secure. Almost monthly over the last year 36% did not eat for a whole day because they could not afford food. Most were male (79%), 20% female and one transgender, aged 22 to 79 years, 20% were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, 70% were born in Australia/NZ. Half had completed high school and 14% University. Half had diagnosed health conditions, 35% had diagnosed mental health issues. Healthy food (90%), cooked meals (81%), water (79%), cutlery (75%) and food at the correct temperature were important for CFS to provide. Respondents were grateful and wanted access to a laundry, shower, toiletries and clean clothes.

Conclusions: The current CFS system does not meet the needs of its recipients. A system-wide response is required to the determinants and outcomes of food insecurity.