Assessment of Food Access and Availability, Hunger, and Nutrition among the Homeless in Rhode Island

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Assessment of Food Access and Availability,
Hunger, and Nutrition among the Homeless in Rhode
Island

• Thaneth Ban, Lady Carmona, Nahomie Delille, and
  Laywell Tedoe
• Undergraduate Nursing Students
• University of Rhode Island

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Goals and Objectives

• Work in collaboration with community
  organizations such as Rhode Island Coalition for
  the Homeless and Crossroads Rhode Island
• Increase understanding of economic and cultural
  barriers to health
• Increase knowledge of population without homes in
  RI
• Assess this population to determine food, hunger
  and nutrition issues
• Increase awareness of the impact of homelessness
  on health

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Survey

• Consent form informed consent
• Survey in four parts
• Demographic
• Case Management/Social Assistance
• Biophysical Data
• Nutritional Diary

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Setting

• Crossroads Rhode Island
• Womens Shelter
• Crossroads Rhode Island Family Shelter
• Community Health Clinic

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Sample

• 33 people
• 13 men, 20 women
• Age from 19-67, average 35
• Education
• 24 (8) less than high school
• 45 (15) high school or GED
• 9 (3) some trade school
• 18 (6) some college
• 0 (0) college completed or post graduate college
• 3 (1) no answer

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Sample cont

• Race
• 36 (12) Caucasian
• 21 (7) African-American
• 21 (7) Latino
• 15 (5) Multiracial
• 0 (0) Asian/ Pacific Islander/ American Indian/
  Alaska Native
• 6 (2) No answer

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Description of Population

• Unemployment
• Mental Illness
• depression
• Substance Abuse
• Domestic Violence
• Chronic Illness
• Physical Disabilities

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38 of people were in the normal range 64 of
people were in the overweight range
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Other findings

• General lack of knowledge of available resources
• 24 had less than high school education
• 1 in 10 had never applied for food stamps
• 2 in 5 were not receiving food stamps
• Lack of knowledge of general programs

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Recommendations for Change

• Availability of Information
• People that are homeless
• Social Service Workers
• Education
• Jobs
• Housing

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Food Programs

• Healthy choices
• Healthy donations
• Changes in food stamp policy
• Change qualifications
• Allow people to purchase prepared hot foods

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RI AHEC support allowed us to

• Learn in an urban underserved community
• Work one on one with individuals and families who
  are homeless
• Work with ethnically and culturally diverse
  population
• Increase our knowledge of the economically
  disadvantaged

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Thank you to Southern Rhode Island AHEC