Association for Public Policy Analysis & Management

Panel: Food Insecurity through Four Lenses

(Poverty and Income Policy)

This panel is designed to explore food insecurity through four different, policy-relevant lenses. The first paper explores issues of measurement using national data; food insecurity is typically reported in the United States in terms of incidence, but measures of depth and severity offer additional insights for policymakers on how households experience challenges with securing an adequate diet. Second, although high rates of food insecurity have persisted since the Great Recession, there have been recent reductions in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, with little understanding of how families already combine SNAP with charitable food assistance, the subject of a set of qualitative interviews. Third, we examine the intersection of food insecurity and health with a particular focus on diet-related diseases among individuals utilizing food banks and charitable food assistance programs. Finally, we will discuss disability as a risk factor for food insecurity. Our panelists and their research represent a diverse range of perspectives and methodologies, including quantitative and qualitative research conducted by individuals from the academic, public and nonprofit sectors. These papers extend existing literature on food insecurity, and inform current discussions on evidence-based policy and programs.