Degree Date

6-2026

Document Type

Dissertation - Public Access

Degree Name

Ph.D. Doctor of Philosophy

Academic Discipline

Community Psychology

First Advisor

Judah Viola

Second Advisor

Bradley Olson

Third Advisor

Alecia Eubanks

Abstract

Food insecurity and homelessness are often perceived as individual social problems in today’s society but are blinded by how these issues are rooted in structural inequalities, limited resources, and systemic barriers within food assistance programs and community resources. This research was guided by three theoretical frameworks; social-ecological theory, liberation psychology theory, and critical theory. Its purpose outlines the experiences of individuals facing homelessness and food insecurity while exploring innovative and sustainable partnerships with the restaurant industry and community resources. This two-part qualitative study employed three methodologies. Study 1 encompassed photovoice and focus groups with 10 individuals with lived experiences of homelessness and food insecurity. The participants documented their experiences with food access, coping strategies, and barriers to healthy food through photography, sharing their narratives. Study 2 comprised of semi-structured interviews with 6 restaurant stakeholders to examine the challenges and identify opportunities for surplus food redistribution.

The key finding from Study 1 revealed that participants often skipped meals, relied on community food resources, and consumed expired food to cope with hunger. The participants in the study also indicated systemic obstacles, such as limited access to transportation, long travel distances, policy restrictions, and the high cost of food, as significant barriers to accessing meals as homeless individuals from food assistance programs. The key findings from Study 2 identified financial burdens, unpredictable food surplus, liability concerns, and community perception as a challenges for restaurants to donate its surplus. Additionally, the restaurant stakeholders also identified opportunities for coordinated food redistributions, community partnerships, and innovative food access initiatives. Collectively, the findings highlight the potential and  importance of sustainable innovative food access through cross-sector partnerships and community resources to break the existing cycles of systemic barriers.

This dissertation contributes to community psychology by centering individuals with lived experiences, identifying innovative opportunities of cross-sector collaborations, and informing policies and practices that promote equitable food access, community empowerment, and reduce food waste.

Keywords: food insecurity, homelessness, lived experiences, food access, photovoice, food surplus, community psychology

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