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A new report, No One Should Go to Bed Hungry: Food Insecurity among youth with government care experience in Metro Vancouver, led by TRRUST (Transition in Resources, Relationships, and Understanding Support Together), is bringing critically important attention to the reality of youth who face food insecurity. TRRUST is a collective impact initiative working to achieve systems-wide improvements in outcomes specifically for youth transitioning out of care (e.g., foster care) in Vancouver.
Approximately one and four youth are experiencing or struggling to properly feed themselves, however, as this report highlights, 94% of youth with care experience reported moderate to severe food insecurity, with the majority describing regular experiences of hunger. These are alarming rates of food insecurity for this community of youth who are experiencing far greater barriers to accessing healthy food as compared to the general youth population.
The Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks were pleased to support and participate in the creation of this report, the results of which aim to address the unique needs and interests of this community in ways that can properly support these youth in achieving a healthy and dignified life.
“Young people leaving care are doing everything they can to survive. But they shouldn’t have to struggle this hard just to eat. Going to bed hungry should never be normal.”
This high rate of food insecurity points to both serious structural barriers and social policy failures, including poverty, unemployment, cost of living, inadequate minimum wages and social assistance supports. Many youths 16 to 27 yrs are employed at the minimum wage of $18.25 per hour if they are lucky to have a job in the current job market, but this wage remains close to $10 below the living wage level necessary to maintain a dignified standard of living in Vancouver.
The principal financial support available to youth ageing out of care is through the SAJE program (Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment program) which provides and unconditional $1,250 per month from the age of 19 to 20 and conditional up to 27 yrs. Among youth with care experience who participated in this study, most reported SAJE as their current source of income. Other income supports include income assistance for singles at $1,060 and disability assistance (support for persons with disabilities or PWD) at $1,483 per month.
Such supports are clearly inadequate for a group of youth who are likely to face many more life barriers – poverty, homelessness and precarity as compared to youth who have not experienced government care.
These youth frequently rely on a patchwork of youth meal supports and other food access programs such as food pantries and food banks for the most basic food access. Organizations such as Broadway Youth Resource Centre, Covenant House, Milieu Children and Family Services, Directions Family Services of Greater Vancouver, Aunt Leah’s and Boys and Girls Club often offer lunch and dinner programs which provide a lifeline for the youth.
(For more information visit the Vancouver Food Asset Map for youth and young adult specific food programs)
Youth are often invisible within our charitable food system as they are less likely to access traditional food programs where they may feel less safe and connected. By participating in this research, the Vancouver Neighbourhood Food Networks have gained important insights into the food security experiences of youth who have experienced government care. These insights challenge those of us who work in the community food sector to design programs that reduce youth food access barriers. For example, youth will typically look for programs specific to youth where greater value is placed on social connection amongst peers, something especially important for youth who have experienced institutionalization or various systems of oppression in their lives.
While food insecurity rates are climbing for all populations, this report is critical in highlighting the need for urgent action. Without meaningful intervention, youth leaving care will continue to face disproportionate hardship, with long-term consequences for their health, stability, and future opportunities. Ensuring that all young people can access food with dignity is not optional—it is a basic responsibility.
What needs to change:
> Make food programs easier to get to (transportation support).
> Improve food quality (more fresh, culturally appropriate options).
> Create welcoming, stigma-free spaces where people can connect.
> Increase income supports so youth can actually afford food.
> Push for policies that address poverty—not just food access.