Food Insecurity & Hunger
Hunger and malnutrition are usually associated with developing countries. However, in Victoria around 200,000 people regularly go hungry, or suffer malnutrition, through lack of regular access to healthy food. 17% of people on low incomes between the ages of 16-24 go hungry at times or are classed as “food insecure” – this means they have limited or uncertain access to good food. We think that’s way too many.
In homes that are food insecure, adults and children might have to cut back on meals, or fend off hunger by eating poor quality food that isn’t very nutritious.
Welfare groups report a growing number of people experiencing food insecurity in Melbourne. Often these people have recently settled here from overseas, or suffer from mental health issues, live in transient or public housing and/or are on very low incomes.
But this isn’t just a problem for the homeless. Many of these people aren’t homeless and aren’t unemployed. They have a job. They have a roof over their heads. But purchasing food is discretionary, whereas paying rent and gas and electricity bills is not. This is Australia’s growing class of working poor.
And the working poor have children, too. These children deserve to start the day with a good breakfast. Kids with empty bellies can’t learn and grow as they need to…
See what our food relief charities are saying about hunger and malnutrition in Melbourne in a special FareShare report.
