Gaps in Food Access DURING the COVID-19 PANDEMIC in MASSACHUSETTS
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Gaps in Food Access DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IN MASSACHUSETTS A REPORT BY IN COLLABORATION WITH GENEROUSLY SUPPORTED BY MAY 2021 Food Insecurity on the Rise in Massachusetts About this Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, food insecurity in Massachusetts increased 55% from 2019 to 2020. At the time of our survey, 30% or 1.6 million adults were experiencing survey food insecurity. Similar to national data, food insecurity rates during the pandemic were highest among adults with children and people of color: From October 2020 to January 2021, The Greater Boston Food • 42% of households with children Bank (GBFB),+55% using an online • 58% of Latinx adults survey company, surveyed over • 45% of Black adults 3,000 Massachusetts adults to obtain timely data on food • 26% of Asian adults insecurity during the COVID-19 • White adults had the lowest level of food insecurity at 24% +55% pandemic. We oversampled low-income adults in order to 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 hear from those most likely in FIGURE 1. need of food assistance and Food insecurity rates among Massachusetts adults, overall and by race/ethnicity used statistical methods to obtain and adults with children (measured using the 6-item USDA Household Food Security estimates representative of the Survey module). Massachusetts population. 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 Figure 1. The survey, funded by the 19% Hunger to Health Collaboratory Overall and Stop & Shop, conducted 30% Figure 1. by GBFB in collaboration with the National Food Access 44% 19% Latinx and COVID Research Team Overall 58% (NFACT, nfactresearch.org), was 30% undertaken to: 31% 44% Black Latinx 45% 1. Identify the prevalence of food 58% insecurity 16% 31% Asian Black 26% 2. Identify gaps and disparities in 45% food assistance use 16% 31% Asian Other/Multiracial 26% 54% 3. Develop data-driven recommendations to ensure 31% 15% Other/Multiracial White that all have adequate access 54% 24% to food 15% White 24% Households 27% with children 42% Households 27% with children 42% Households 14% without children 22% Households 14% without children 22% Figure 3. Figure 3. 9% 9% Overall Overall 12% 12% 21% 21% Latinx Latinx 28% 28% 20% 1 Black 20% 26% Black 26% 6% Asian 6% 9% Asian 9% 17% Other/Multiracial 19% 17% Other/Multiracial 6% 19% White 9% 6% White 9% Households 12% with children 18% Households 12% Households 6% with children 18% without children 8% Households 6% without children 8% Figure 4. 12% Overall 20% Figure 4. 27% 12% Latinx Overall 40% 20% 22% Black 39% 27% Latinx 7% 40% Asian 16% 22% Black 13% Other/Multiracial 39% 38% 7% 9% Asian White 16% 15% 13% Other/Multiracial Households 16% 38% with children 29% 9% 9% White Households 15% without children 14% Households 16% with children 29% Households 9% without children 14% Gaps in Food Assistance Use +55% Roughly half of adults experiencing food insecurity were using either Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or food pantries during the pandemic. Among the food insecure, those who used food pantries were more likely to also be using other forms of food assistance; 72% reported using SNAP, 55% of those with children under 5 reported using WIC, and 61% with children under 18 reported +55% using school meals. Even those who were using multiple food assistance programs often times still felt that their food needs were not fully met. 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 FIGURE 2. Food assistance use among adults experiencing food insecurity. Figure 2. 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 27% Adults using food pantries 32% 32% Figure 2. Adults using SNAP 46% 27% Adults using food pantries 32% 46% Adults using either food pantries or SNAP 32% 55% Adults using SNAP 46% 33% Adults with children under 5 receiving WIC 46% 35% Adults using either food pantries or SNAP 55% Adults with children receiving free 30% 33% Adults with children under 5 receiving WIC or reduced-priced school meals 37% 35% Adults with children receiving free 30% or reduced-priced school meals 37% “Along with max SNAP benefits and Pandemic-EBT at least for a couple of months we felt food secure. Without both, we still struggle toward the end of the month. We have both been out of work during the pandemic with three children at home. It has been a very hard year.” – Mother, Hampden County 2 +55% 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 Figure 1. 19% Overall 30% 44% Latinx 58% 31% Black 45% 16% Asian 26% 31% Other/Multiracial 54% 15% White 24% 27% +55% Households with children 42% Households 14% without children 22% 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 Figure 1. Figure 3. 19% 9% Overall Overall 30% 12% 44% Latinx 21% Latinx 58% 28% 31% 20% Black Black 45% 26% 16% 6% Asian Asian 26% 9% Only 1 out of 3 Adults31% Only 1 out of 2 Adults Other/Multiracial 17% experiencing Food Insecurity Other/Multiracial 54% experiencing Food 19%Insecurity are Using Food Pantries15% are Enrolled in SNAP White 6% Pantry use increased among all racial/ethnic groups during Use of SNAP wasWhite highest among adults with children, 24% 9% the pandemic; 30% of those who used a pantry during the with 29% using SNAP during the pandemic, nearly pandemic did so for the first time. double the rate from 2019. SNAP use increased among Households 27% all racial/ethnicHouseholds groups. 12% Most pantry userswith children(77%) learned42% about the pantry from with children 18% friends, family, or online searches, with very few being The majority (89%) of those enrolled in SNAP found it Households 14% referred by formal outreach programs. On average, they helpful. However,Households many found6% it insufficient, with 54% without children 22% visited a pantry once or twice per month and 47% said at reportingwithout they had children to seek8% additional food assistance, least half of their groceries came from a pantry during such as going to a food pantry. +55% the+55% pandemic. FIGURE 3. FIGURE 4. Food pantry use among Massachusetts adults, overall SNAP use among Massachusetts adults, overall and and by race/ethnicity and adults with children. by race/ethnicity and adults with children. 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 12 months before COVID-19 During COVID-19 Figure 3. Figure 4. 9% 12% Overall Overall 12% 20% Figure 1. Figure 1. 21% 27% 19% Latinx 19% Latinx Overall 28% Overall 40% 30% 30% 20% 22% Black Black 44% 44% Latinx 26% Latinx 39% 58% 58% 6% 7% 31% Asian 31% Asian Black 9% Black 16% 45% 45% 17% 16% 16% 13% Asian Other/Multiracial Asian Other/Multiracial 26% 19% 26% 38% 31% 6% 31% 9% Other/Multiracial White Other/Multiracial White 54% 9% 54% 15% 15% 15% White White 24% Households 12% 24% Households 16% with children 18% with children 29% Households 27% Households 27% 6% 9% with children 42% Households with children 42% Households without children 8% without children 14% Households 14% Households 14% without children 22% without children 22% “I never realized food pantries supplied “Extremely grateful for the extra pandemic fresh fruit and vegetables. Now that assistance. My SNAP feeds me one meal a comes in handy more than ever! day for about two weeks, give or take. Figure 4. 12% ” Figure 3. Figure 3. 9% – First-timeOverall food pantry user, Worcester 9% I have to ask friends and family for food Overall 20% Overall 12% 12%assistance because SNAP just doesn’t give 27% 21% Latinx 21%enough, ever, to survive on. I just can’t Latinx 40% Latinx 28% 28% survive without the help of others.” 20% 22% 20% Black Black Black – Single mom, Salem 26% 39% 26% 6% 7% 6% Asian Asian Asian 9% 16% 9% 3 17% 17% Other/Multiracial 13% Other/Multiracial 19% Other/Multiracial 19% 38% 6% 6% White 9% White 9% White 9% 15% Households 12% Households 12% with children 18% Households 16% with children 18% with children Households 6% 29% Households 6% without children without children 8% Households 9% 8% without children 14% Figure 4. Figure 12%4. 12% Overall Overall 20% 20% 27% 27% Latinx Latinx 40% 40% 22% 22% Black Black 39% 39% 7% 7% Asian Asian 16% 16% 13% 13% Other/Multiracial Other/Multiracial 38% 38% 9% 9% White White 15% 15% Households 16% Households 16% with children 29% with children 29% Households 9% Households 9% without children 14% without children 14% Key Barriers to Food Pantry Use: Self-Reliance, Stigma, and Awareness The most commonly reported barriers to using pantries included a desire for self-reliance, lack of FIGURE 5. knowledge about pantry hours, stigma, and concern FoodKey Barriers pantry to Using barriersFood Pantries reported by adults experiencing food over having too many assets to use a food pantry. insecurity who have not used a food pantry during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, those that were able to overcome these Key Barriers to SNAP barriers and use food pantries were satisfied with their experience: 89% felt welcome, 89% would 74% I want to support myself instead recommend pantries to others, 80% felt the food aligned with their cultural beliefs, 77% said it was 62% I don’t know when they are open I’m worried that I’m not eligible what they liked to eat, and 75% felt the food was of I want to support myself instead good quality. I feel embarrassed to use 58% 78% I’m worried about paperwork I need to share 73% I’m worried people will find out I use 57% I’m worried I have too many personal assets I’d feel embarrassed to use 54% The hours and locations are not convenient I don’t know how to apply I have been using food pantries I don’t have time to apply “ 51% since I was young.