The double burden of food and housing insecurity in Saskatchewan, Canada, understood in the context of a pandemic.

Abstract

Objective: Using data from a population-based cross-sectional survey, we aim to measure the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of COVID-19 on household food insecurity, housing insecurity, and the double burden of experiencing both.

Methods: Data were collected from July to November 2022. We used simple and multivariable logistic regression models to investigate the factors contributing to food insecurity, housing insecurity, and the double burden. Additionally, we computed the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) to determine whether any significant interactions contributed to the increased risk of experiencing the double burden.

Results: Around 27% of our study participants were food insecure, 54% were housing insecure, and 22% were food and housing insecure (double burden). Respondents' gender, age, ethnicity, education, and income were associated with experiencing the double burden of food and housing insecurity. Additionally, this study found a significant statistical interaction between residence location and employment status, with both employed and unemployed individuals in urban areas facing higher odds of experiencing the double burden of food and housing insecurity compared to retired individuals in either urban or rural areas; the relative excess risk due to interaction analysis suggests that increasing employment opportunities may have a more substantial impact on reducing this burden in urban areas.

Conclusion: Findings from this study provide important insights into addressing the issue of food and housing insecurity, especially through improving employment opportunities for vulnerable populations in Canada. Comprehensive systems-oriented intersectoral policies are much needed to improve households' experience of multiple need insecurities.