Short Communication Health needs and neighbourhood concerns of low income households vulnerable to food insecurity E.M. Vivian a,* , J. Le b,e , P. Ikem a,f , Y. Tolson c a University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy, 777 Highland Avenue, Madison, WI 53705, USA b University of California San Diego, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, USA c St. Vincent de Paul Charitable Pharmacy, 2033 Fish Hatchery Road, Madison, WI 53725, USA article info Article history: Received 15 November 2013 Received in revised form 2 May 2014 Accepted 6 May 2014 Available online xxx Introduction In 2010, an estimated 32.6 million adults in the United States experienced food insecurity. 1 Food insecurity, defined as the limited or uncertain availability of healthy and nutritious foods is increasing among low income households. Lack of access to a nutritious and adequate food supply has implica- tions not only for the development of physical and mental disease, but also behaviours and social skills. 1,2 Health disparities related to food have a disproportional impact on low-income households, placing them at increased risk for developing obesity, heart disease, diabetes, and other chronic diseases. 3 Poor access to healthy foods has been found to be strongly associated with adverse health outcomes; therefore, a person's diet becomes a predictable health indi- cator, turning food access into a public health issue. 4 Households at risk of food insecurity often lack envi- ronmental resources such as adequate housing, safe walking paths and working conditions, which can also have a negative impact on their health. 3e5 Individuals from low income households may also face financial and life stress which can compromise their health. 4,5 Continual exposure to stress, as well as a lack of resources, skills, social support, and connection to the community can contribute to less healthy coping skills and poorer health behaviours such as smoking, over-consumption of alcohol and less healthy eating habits. 5 Preventive and management programs which focus on developing sustainable healthy lifestyles are important to improve the health of individuals and families at risk of food insecurity. A short needs assessment survey was developed and distributed to a sample of clients who utilize a food pantry in an underserved community to help identify their health needs and neighbourhood concerns and learn the best way to design health promotion strategies within the community. St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) located in Madison, WI operates the largest food pantry in Dane County. The SVdP food pantry is a client choice model, where clients select their own food choices, like shopping in a grocery store. The SVdP food pantry serves nearly 22,000 households and donated over $1,300,000 in 2013. SVdP has an ethnically-diverse clientele that consists of 35% whites, 33% African Americans, 20% Hispanics/Latino Americans, 10% Asians, and 2% American Indians and/or Alaska Natives. Individuals and families who participate in the food pantry program are below the 185% federal poverty line. * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ1 608 263 1779 (office). E-mail addresses: emvivian@pharmacy.wisc.edu (E.M. Vivian), jenle@ucsd.edu (J. Le), ikem@wisc.edu (P. Ikem), yolanda@svdpma- dison.org (Y. Tolson). e Tel.: þ1 858 534 3692. f Tel.: þ1 608 263 1779 (office). Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Public Health journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/puhe public health xxx (2014) 1 e3 Please cite this article in press as: Vivian EM, et al., Health needs and neighbourhood concerns of low income households vulnerable to food insecurity, Public Health (2014), http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2014.05.005 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2014.05.005 0033-3506/© 2014 The Royal Society for Public Health. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.