abstract: This study examined poverty, material hardship, financial capability, and quality of life among residents of a subsidized housing complex for seniors and adults with disabilities in Phoenix, Arizona. Respondents (N-25) completed a 42-item questionnaire in March of 2017. Data analysis revealed reports of incomes as low as 200% of the poverty level, difficulty paying for food, medications, recreation, and transportation. The study found a positive correlation between the presence of a disability and obtaining sufficient food. In addition, the results indicated lowered financial literacy, reduced ability to keep up with monthly expenses, and a positive correlation between lower income and inability to come up with $2000 in the event of an unexpected expense. Respondents reported minimal use of non-mainstream financial services; most had checking accounts, while fewer reported savings accounts. Scores on financial literacy questions were low and respondents indicated interest in a financial literacy course. The study also revealed low perceived quality of life among the majority of respondents and a positive relationship with material hardship and lower quality of life scores. Implications include the need for further research within the population. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Social Work 2017

Over 12% of households were food insecure in Canada in 2011. Despite recognition of this problem, there remains no targeted public policy to address it. To inform interventions, examined in this thesis were how changes in financial resources related to changes in severity of food insecurity, the needs of food insecure households, and the effectiveness of current interventions. Studies 1, 2, 4, and 5 utilized data from a sample of 485 low income families living in high poverty neighbourhoods in Toronto, and Study 3 used data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) 2009-2011. In Study 1, the sensitivity of severity of food insecurity to changes in employment and income was observed. In Study 2, it was found that severity of food insecurity was associated with increasing probability of experiencing hardships in other domains such as delayed bill payments and giving up household services. The relationship between food insecurity and obesity among women was examined in Study 3, and it was shown that diagnoses of mood disorder partially explained the association. Patterns of association also varied by family status and severity of experiences. In Studies 4 and 5, use and non-use of current interventions focused on alleviating hunger (i.e. food banks) and improving healthy food access in communities (i.e. community gardens, Good Food Box) were examined among food insecure families. There was a low prevalence of use of all types of programs. Programs were not used because programs were not accessible or were not viewed as appropriate supports to meet needs. Taken together, findings suggest that interventions focused on potential manifestations and consequences of food insecurity are misplaced, and reinforce the urgent need for interventions to alleviate the financial insufficiency and insecurity that underpins food insecurity.

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