This study explored the food experiences of street youth, one of the fastest growing segments of the homeless population in Canada. To gain an in-depth understanding of food insecurity within the context of daily life, ethnographic research was undertaken with street youth at one inner-city drop-in center in Toronto, Ontario. Results of this study reveal that street youth’s access to food was precarious amidst the instability & chaos of street life. The day-to-day lives of the street youth encountered in this study were characterized by a constant struggle to find safe, secure shelter, generate income, & obtain sufficient food. In this context, food was a precious commodity.
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