Examining Rural Food-Insecure Families’ Perceptions of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: A Qualitative Study

Lindsey Haynes-Maslow, Annie Hardison-Moody, Megan Patton-Lopez, T. Elaine Prewitt, Carmen Byker Shanks, Lauri Andress, Isabel Osborne and Stephanie Jilcott Pitts
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Lindsey Haynes-Maslow: Department of Agricultural & Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27659, USA
Annie Hardison-Moody: Department of Agricultural & Human Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27659, USA
Megan Patton-Lopez: Division of Health & Exercise Science, Western Oregon University, Monmouth, OR 97361, USA
T. Elaine Prewitt: Department of Health Policy and Management, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR 72205, USA
Carmen Byker Shanks: Food and Health Lab, Department of Health & Human Development, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59718, USA
Lauri Andress: Department of Health Policy, Management, and Leadership, West Virginia University School of Public Health, Morgantown, WV 26505, USA
Isabel Osborne: Department of Global Studies, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
Stephanie Jilcott Pitts: Department of Public Health, East Carolina University, 115 Heart Drive, Greenville, NC 27834, USA

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 17, 1-15

Abstract: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is a critical program that helps reduce the risk of food insecurity, yet little is known about how SNAP addresses the needs of rural, food-insecure residents in the United States (U.S.). This study examines how rural, food-insecure residents perceive SNAP. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 153 individuals living in six diverse rural regions of Arkansas, Montana, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia. SNAP was described as a crucial stop-gap program, keeping families from experiencing persistent food insecurity, making food dollars stretch when the family budget is tight, and helping them purchase healthier foods. For many rural residents interviewed, SNAP was viewed in a largely positive light. In efforts to continue improving SNAP, particularly in light of its relevance during and post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, policymakers must be aware of rural families’ perceptions of SNAP. Specific improvements may include increased transparency regarding funding formulas, budgeting and nutrition education for recipients, effective training to improve customer service, connections among social service agencies within a community, and increased availability of automation to streamline application processes.

Keywords: rural; SNAP; food insecurity; food access (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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