Improving nutrition among people experiencing homelessness

Who are these resources for?

This page includes two animations and a research report, aimed at homelessness services or service managers and frontline staff.

The research report will also be of interest to policy makers, local authorities or service commissioners, as well as community stakeholders such as food banks and soup kitchens.

Why were these resources created?

Poor nutrition is a significant challenge for people experiencing homelessness, and can lead to weakened immunity, delayed recovery from illness and risk of depression and anxiety.

A nutrition project delivered by London-based homelessness service, Providence Row, commissioned Homeless Link to conduct research in Tower Hamlets. The research examines current food provision and explores gaps and opportunities in access to food and nutrition among people experiencing homelessness and using substances.

It considers how nutrition can play a role in recovery and aims to deepen understanding of the needs of various groups, including rough sleepers, hostel residents, and those in temporary accommodation.

Information on the wider Providence Row project can be accessed here. This aims to enhance the nutritional health and awareness of people experiencing homelessness and using drugs and alcohol, recognising the role of nutrition in supporting recovery and overall wellbeing. It addresses an existing gap by delivering personalised nutritional assessments, psychoeducation, and integrated care in collaboration with local homelessness and health services.

What can homelessness services do to address nutrition?

By considering nutrition as part of homelessness support, services can improve the health and wellbeing of their clients, aiding recovery and move-on from homelessness.

Based on the recommendations from our research, these two animations explain the simple actions that:

1. homelessness services can take to improve the consistency and nutrition of the food they provide;
2. support workers can take to support service users to improve their awareness of and access to healthy nutrition.

What are the key findings from the nutrition research report?

The research findings aim to help scale up effective responses to improve nutritional outcomes for people experiencing homelessness. It is the intention that in Tower Hamlets, and elsewhere, they will inform future activities, partnerships, and investments aimed at integrating nutrition into support services to promote long-term recovery and better overall health. Download the full report below.

Key findings

• Access to consistent, nutritious food is a major challenge for individuals experiencing homelessness in Tower Hamlets.
• Rough sleepers face significant food access gaps during evenings and weekends when services close.
• While some hostels provide essential food, the quality, variety, and reliability of meals are often limited by budget constraints and irregular food donations.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests that individuals placed in temporary accommodation, particularly in B&Bs without kitchen facilities, may be under-served compared to other groups.
• The type and quality of food, as well as the environment in which it is provided, play a crucial role in where people choose to access meals.
• Most participants expressed strong feelings about food and their eating habits, even if food wasn’t their top priority.
• Most interviewees felt they were not eating enough or getting the nutrients they needed, though experiences differed depending on people’s circumstances.
• Substance use often disrupts eating habits, causing long periods without food or unbalanced diets. Even so, participants highlighted the importance of regular meals and consistent food access to combat cravings and support recovery.
• Food is more than just a physical need; it has strong emotional significance. Provision of poor-quality food was often seen as disrespectful, leading some to skip meals. In contrast, well-prepared meals helped individuals feel valued and respected.
• Poor nutrition caused many participants to experience weight loss, low energy, and mood swings, which worsened their physical and mental health challenges.
• Managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, is especially difficult due to irregular meals and limited access to healthy food, which makes following medical advice nearly impossible.
• While some participants had received advice on nutrition from healthcare professionals, unstable living conditions made it hard to follow this guidance.