Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Inequities Amongst Hispanic Beneficiaries

Principal Investigator:
Jason Pleitez

Faculty Advisor:
Jose Rojas Fernandez

Abstract:
One in eight Americans receives federal assistance through the "Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program," or SNAP. For a program this size, it's critical to regularly assess its efficacy and create laws that will improve its management as it changes. The federal government constantly updates the SNAP program in order to directly address events and circumstances that may be occurring in the US at any given time. Enhancing food security and expanding low-income people's access to a nutritious diet are the main objectives of the SNAP program. The inability to obtain enough food for a healthy, active life is known as food insecurity. "Over 10% of American households face food insecurity in most years, despite the availability of SNAP and other safety net programs" (Schanzenbach, 2023). Moreover, families with children as well as Black, Hispanic, and Native American communities are more likely to experience food insecurity and financial hardship (Coleman-Jensen et al., 2021). In order to address this, the program gives recipients more purchasing power over food and empowers them to cook at home in order to obtain a more nutritious diet (Caswell et al., 2013). The food products and retailers that are eligible to use SNAP benefits for purchases are governed by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA). The goal is to encourage the recipients to cook and prepare their own meals while also promoting healthy eating. We will compare the effect of the SNAP program between Hispanic and Caucasian beneficiaries.