The Management of Food Insecurity
Managing food insecurity represents a significant challenge. Most individuals surviving on low incomes spend the core of their budget on shelter. In fact, Toronto food bank users spend an average of 63% of their monthly income on shelter. Food costs are easier to manipulate, and consequently individuals may spend less on food when their shelter related expenses increase, for example, during unusually cold weather.
Income related strategies to avoid hunger involve attempts to increase the supply of money, and juggling the budget. The use of such strategies by Canadian households experiencing food insecurity was analyzed in the 1998-1999 National Population Health Survey for food insecure households. This research revealed that:
57% used coupons or returned bottles
49% postponed bill payments
46% ate cheaper foods
40% borrowed money
28% skipped meals or ate less
22% received food from charities
20% borrowed food
14% sold possessions
9% bought food on credit
