Spotlight on Urban Health Seminar Series Filling their Bellies: Community Initiatives to Feed the Homeless Valerie Tarasuk, (PhD) Department of Nutritional Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto SUMMARY While the origins of homelessness in Canada arguably lie in macro-level changes in social and economic conditions, the problem itself resides in communities, and it has become their job to figure out how to respond. We undertook a broad-based study of community responses to the food needs of homeless people in Toronto to describe local efforts and elucidate the assumptions and constraints that shape this work. Our research included an inventory of programs providing meals or snacks to homeless people, structured telephone interviews with program staff, in-depth study of a purposive sample of 18 programs, and key informant interviews with program funders and suppliers. Our results draw into question the appropriateness and effectiveness of local food provisioning efforts. The mobilization of community resources that underpins these programs is consistent with federal policy directions on homelessness, but our data suggest that structural limitations make it impossible for such initiatives to meet the food and nutrition needs of homeless people. BIO Valerie Tarasuk is a Professor in the Department of Nutritional Sciences at the University of Toronto. Much of her research has focused on problems of domestic food insecurity, considering their origins and nutrition implications and examining current policy and program responses. Current research initiatives include a study of the relationship between housing, neighbourhood characteristics and food access among low-income families and an analysis of national survey data to examine nutrition disparities in Canada. University of Toronto, University College (15 King's College Circle) Rm 256 - 2nd Flr, East Wing May 2, 2007 1:10- 2:10 PM Free, all are welcome, please RSVP to [log in to unmask] Upcoming Seminars/ Workshops: May 10th: "The Role of Neighbourhoods in the Development of Social and Health Policy" Workshop Panel: Jim Dunn (Centre for Research on Inner City Health); Russell Mawby (Housing, City of Ottawa); Maureen Fair (St. Christopher's House) & Armine Yalnizyan (Toronto Social Planning Council) Please see our website for upcoming seminar summaries and other events: www.cuhi.utoronto.ca To UNSUBSCRIBE send to: [log in to unmask] the following phrase "unsubscribe click4hp" as unquoted text. To view archives or manage your subscription (and create a password) go to http://listserv.yorku.ca/archives/click4hp.html