To improve food access, people experiencing food insecurity call for greater flexibility and ease of access
Food insecure residents say benefit programs helped them access food during COVID.
Targeted food benefits such as SNAP, P-EBT, and WIC have helped address some of the biggest food insecurity challenges in Massachusetts during COVID-19. A new poll asked residents who are experiencing food insecurity about ways to improve access to these and other food benefits.
"This poll shows that, while food insecurity is a serious and growing issue, it is not an insurmountable one," said Jill Shah, President of the Shah Family Foundation. "Over and over again, food insecure families across Massachusetts point to proximity and choice as key areas for improvement in our food aid systems. By trusting people, meeting them where they are, and giving them unrestricted cash to buy the food they need, we can help millions of malnourished families put fresh, healthy food on their table."
The new statewide poll of 507 food insecure residents of Massachusetts was released today by the Shah Family Foundation. The poll was conducted online from July 23 – August 3, 2021 and was overseen by The MassINC Polling Group.
Among the ideas people said would make food access “much easier” were expanding income eligibility (54%), making it easier to apply (53%), allowing people to select the food they want (52%), and providing central distribution sources (49%). These ideas highlight another key challenge of improving food access: information. Many don’t know about existing benefits or how to access them. Many think the income cut-offs for programs like SNAP are lower than they actually are and underestimate the benefit amount.
Simply communicating basic facts about the help currently available could lead to more residents applying, and that could make a big difference. Among residents using 4 or 5 of the food benefits included in the survey, 66% say it has been easy to get food. Only 48% of those who use 0 or 1 benefit say the same.
Most using traditional benefits are happy with them, adding further urgency to expanding sign ups. Nearly all users of WIC (91%), SNAP (91%), and P-EBT (85%) were very or somewhat satisfied with the programs and said the effort required to access and use the benefits was worth it (91%). The poll echoed other recent surveys showing WIC and P-EBT were key to easing parents’ food struggles.
The poll also looked at newer food distribution ideas, including supermarkets offering bags of discounted produce, mobile food pantries, and delivering food to centrally-located apartment buildings in neighborhoods for further distribution. Here too, information is a key challenge. Among those having a difficult time getting enough food, half or more were unfamiliar with each of the ideas. But getting information out about the programs would be worth it, as most who have not used them said they would be interested in trying them out.
Throughout the pandemic, food access has been a struggle for many residents, with 35% reporting they have experienced food insecurity at some point in the last year. As of now, 15% in Massachusetts said they are currently experiencing difficulty accessing enough food, in line with other recent estimates.
Food benefits appear to have helped some groups more than others. Food insecure parents have benefitted from programs such as P-EBT and SNAP, and express very high levels of satisfaction with each. Other food insecure residents, such as older and rural residents, are less likely to access current food programs.
”The good news is that those who are using existing programs give them high marks, which is encouraging” said Steve Koczela, President of The MassINC Polling Group, which conducted the survey. “There also appears to be room to expand usage by changing how we communicate. Food insecurity has been a challenge throughout the pandemic, and remains so today.”
About the poll: These results are based on a survey of 507 food insecure residents in Massachusetts. Food insecure residents were identified from a statewide survey of 1,560 residents of Massachusetts. Online interviewing was conducted from July 23 – August 3, 2021. Results were weighted to age, gender, geography, and education level. The poll was sponsored by The Shah Foundation.
About The MassINC Polling Group: The MassINC Polling Group is a nonpartisan public opinion research firm serving public, private, and social-sector clients. MPG elevates the public's voice with cutting edge methods and rigorous analysis. Based in Boston, MPG serves a nationwide client base.