New! My coauthor Abby Pitts & I just released week 2 results from the @COVIDImpact survey looking at #foodinsecurity & food pantries in May.

Bad news: food insecurity is still up 2X-3X.

https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/news/2020/food-insecurity-remains-high-in-may.html

#foodinsecurity continues to hit kids especially.

1 in 3 respondents w/kids reported food insecurity (avg across April & May. No stat change across months.)

THIS IS TOO HIGH.

#foodinsecurity for those w/kids higher in urban & rural areas than in the suburbs. But, frankly, high in all 3.

Just looking at changes in May, #foodinsecurity is up among blacks, down among whites.

ICYMI: A MAJORITY of black respondents w/kids reported #food insecurity in May in @COVIDImpact.

For the nerds: to be sure, there is a confidence interval on that estimate. 0.40-0.63. All way too high.

Overall, 7% have received help in past week from food pantries.
In NY and TX, and Phoenix, 10%+ report getting help from food pantries in last week.

This is not sustainable! We need policy!

Per @ttobinn, Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) now approved by @USDANutrition in 31 states.

That $ needs to get to families NOW, after slow approvals.

And P-EBT should be extended thru summer (& in place for fall, in case more school closures)

#SNAPWorks very well here! 15% increase in benefits would help families’ need AND stimulate the economy.

The Econ recovery will be l-o-n-g.

See my piece with @HilaryHoynes
http://www.hamiltonproject.org/papers/strengthening_snap_as_an_automatic_stabilizer

Addressing #FoodInsecurity should be a top priority for Congress.

More ideas, w/ @laurenlbauer here: https://www.brookings.edu/blog/up-front/2020/03/09/food-security-is-economic-security-is-economic-stimulus/

Stay tuned: More # expected from Pulse survey this week, and @COVIDImpact survey in June.

We have to do better for kids!

Continued big thanks to the team at @IPRatNU for all their help pulling this together!