Coping strategies among food insecure households above and below SNAP eligibility guidelines in a high cost of living region

Abstract

This study explores how households in a high cost-of-living rural region navigate food-insecurity. We examine differences in coping strategies among households with income above and below 130% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) and highlight factors influencing food access among Hispanic/Latino households using a community-based participatory research (CBPR) and multimethod approach. First, a survey of 1,021 food-insecure adults above and below 130% FPL was conducted from December 2022 to March 2024, assessing the extent to which households relied on charitable food assistance and engaged in economic tradeoffs between food and other basic needs. Generalized ordinal logistic regressions analyzed differences between income groups. Second, a photovoice study with six Hispanic/Latino participants used documentary photography and focus groups to document food insecurity experiences through participant narratives and photographs. Participatory content analysis identified key factors influencing food access and navigating food insecurity. Survey findings indicated that participants above 130% FPL were more likely than those below to rely on food pantries (OR = 2.56), soup kitchens (OR = 2.00), and other charitable food sources (OR = 1.44) for the majority of their food. They also engaged in tradeoffs with medicine (OR = 1.65), utilities (OR = 1.30), transportation (OR = 1.21), childcare (OR = 1.18), and education (OR = 1.43) more often. Photovoice findings revealed participants' perceptions around food insecurity including lack of affordable foods and disparities in food access, a regional emphasis on production of grain over local produce which contributed to increased food prices, and local inequities prioritizing tourism over year-round residents. Participants relied heavily on food assistance to reduce hunger and provide additional financial support for food. They also engaged in acts of mutual aid such as volunteering and connecting others in need to food assistance resources as a way to give back to their own communities. The importance of family, culture, and health were also identified as important influences on food access. Households in this high cost-of-living region cope with the experience of being food insecure through both structural and community-based strategies. Those above 130% FPL rely heavily on charitable food assistance and economic tradeoffs, while Hispanic/Latino households employ social networks and cultural resilience. These findings highlight the need for policies and interventions that address food insecurity holistically, considering economic constraints, cultural preferences, and systemic barriers to equitable food access.