TMU Campus Food Security Watch 2024

<p dir="ltr"><b>Study purpose</b></p><p dir="ltr">Food insecurity, the inability to access sufficient, safe, and nutritious food in socially acceptable ways due to financial constraints, is a growing public health concern. Post-secondary students are particularly prone to food insecurity, due to rising living costs, tuition pressures, and limited time for paid work and food preparation. This report examines the prevalence of food insecurity among students at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU) through secondary analysis of two campus-wide surveys conducted in 2024.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Key Findings</b></p><p dir="ltr">Food insecurity is high and persistent among TMU students. Based on a 12-month measure, 34.4% of students experienced food insecurity, consistent with 2015 findings. A 30-day measure in Fall 2024 showed higher rates (51.5%), suggesting that food insecurity may worsen at the start of the academic year when expenses increase.</p><p dir="ltr">Food insecurity is tied to financial stress. Students facing financial pressure were more likely to be food insecure, indicating that this issue is driven by economic constraints, not simply food access. Students with poorer physical and mental health were more likely to experience food insecurity, pointing to links between financial hardship and well-being.</p><p dir="ltr">Logistic regression analyses reveal inequities across student groups. Racialized students, students with disabilities, and gender-diverse students faced higher risk, reflecting broader systemic disparities. Living situations matter, too. Students living with family were less likely to face food insecurity, while those living independently or on campus faced higher risk. Longer commute times were associated with food insecurity, likely reflecting both financial constraints and limited time to access and prepare food.</p><p dir="ltr">Student food insecurity at TMU is a systemic and persistent issue shaped by financial and structural factors requiring coordinated efforts that ensure reliable access to nutritious food.</p><p dir="ltr"><b>Recommendations</b></p><ul><li>Address structural financial barriers by expanding bursaries, emergency funding, and student employment opportunities</li><li>Provide targeted, stigma-informed supports for students facing higher risk</li><li>Expand supports during high-risk periods, such as the beginning of the academic year</li><li>Improve service coordination among existing services on and off campus</li><li>Strengthen long-term, sustainable strategies through cross-departmental collaboration</li></ul><p dir="ltr"><br></p>