Food Insecurity in Homeless Families in the Paris Region (France): Results from the ENFAMS Survey

Judith Martin-Fernandez, Sandrine Lioret, Cécile Vuillermoz, Pierre Chauvin and Stéphanie Vandentorren
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Judith Martin-Fernandez: INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France
Sandrine Lioret: INSERM, Université Sorbonne Paris Cité, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics, Early Life Research on Later Health (EARoH) Team, 75004 Paris, France
Cécile Vuillermoz: INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France
Pierre Chauvin: INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France
Stéphanie Vandentorren: INSERM, Sorbonne Université, Institut Pierre Louis d’Épidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Department of Social Epidemiology, 75012 Paris, France

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: The number of families living in shelters in the Paris region (France) has increased by a factor of three in 10 years. In 2013, a survey was performed on homeless families in order to characterize their living conditions, their health needs, and the developmental problems in children. This probability survey was conducted in 17 languages among 801 homeless families sheltered in emergency centers for asylum-seekers, emergency housing centers, social rehabilitation centers, and social hotels in the Paris region. Among the 772 families that provided data on food security only 14.0% were with food security, whereas 43.3% were with low food security and 9.8% with very low food security (a situation where children are also affected). Stratified multivariate robust Poisson models showed that some characteristics are associated with a higher risk of food insecurity and/or of falling into very low food security, such as residential instability, single parenthood, having more than three children, depressive symptoms, housing in social hostels, and difficult access to cheap or free food locally. Given the wealth of the Paris region, resources and programs should be concentrated on improving the living situation of this vulnerable population. It needs better detection of these families, a closer social follow-up, and an increase in food aid.

Keywords: homeless; food insecurity; urban health (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:3:p:420-:d:133837

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