Masters Thesis Abstract: Kate McPherson
Food insecurity and the food bank ‘industry’: political, individual and environmental factors contributing to food bank use
Food bank clients represent an opportunity to better understand geographical issues of food insecurity, urban poverty and inequalities in the community. While previous research has largely focused on individual client factors and patterns of use of food banks, this study seeks to expand on these concepts in the local context and examine possible environmental determinants of food bank use.
In order to achieve the research objectives, this study examines socio-demographic and address data obtained for food bank clients (n=1695) from a large Christchurch social service agency for 2005. Client address data from a second large Christchurch social service agency will also be analysed to illustrate trends over time by NZDep01. Questionnaires and interviews have also been conducted with staff and volunteers from 20 social service agencies in Christchurch offering food bank services. Preliminary findings have found that Maori, beneficiaries, low income workers, males, single people, and families with dependent children (particularly sole parents) are significant users of the food bank. Additionally, important individual differences exist according to gender and the level of neighbourhood deprivation. There is a very clear deprivation trend showing people from the most deprived neighbourhoods are utilising food banks at a much higher rate than those in less deprived neighbourhoods. Further ecological analysis of rates of use by CAU will be carried out using a variety of measures. It is argued that sustainable income levels and affordable housing, along with a less bureaucratic WINZ environment, are key factors that would help reduce dependency on the food bank ‘industry’.
For copies of reports see http://www.geohealth.canterbury.ac.nz/research/food.shtml