Journal: Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Date: August, 2020 

Summary: The study used longitudinal data from the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study. This study monitored 4,898 children born between 1998 and 2000 in 20 U.S. cities. Interviews with mothers and fathers were conducted at birth, and when the child was one, three, five, nine, and 15 years old, as well as in-home assessments at ages three and five. The study used data from birth interviews, and the in-home assessments at ages three (referred to as Wave 3) and five (referred to as Wave 4) to examine the relationship between food insecurity and housing instability. Both food insecurity and housing instability are associated with negative health outcomes in children and adults. The authors found that families who experience food insecurity are at increased risk of experiencing housing instability, and vice versa, which they refer to as a bidirectional relationship. They also found that families who experienced both food insecurity and housing instability were more likely to be racial/ethnic minorities and more socioeconomically disadvantaged.

Key takeaways / Why this is important: 
Intervention programs are generally designed to focus on one issue. For example, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) aims to reduce food insecurity and provide access to healthy foods. Given the bidirectional relationship between food insecurity and housing stability identified in this study, would a holistic approach be more effective? For example, families who qualify for SNAP could automatically qualify for a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or something similar. Such comprehensive approaches could allow more space for addressing the stress and mental health impacts associated with both food insecurity and housing instability, which are known to impact long-term health. 

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