Basic Needs

Basic needs include anything that people or households need to survive. Traditional lists of basic needs consist of items such as food, water and shelter. However,  more recent lists have expanded to represent a more holistic picture of what is required to move beyond mere survival to well-being. Such lists consist of: food, shelter, clothing, transportation, healthcare, personal care items, essential furnishings, transportation, communication, laundry services, education, sanitation and insurance. The resources in this section explore the issues of energy poverty, social assistance, food security, and transportation.