Geographic Patterns of Applications to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in New Orleans, Louisiana in the Immediate Aftermath of the COVID-19 Pandemic

ABSTRACT

This paper examined geographic patterns of changes in the density of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) applications at the zip code level in New Orleans, LA in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic (March–May 2020), compared to pre-pandemic times (March–May 2019). All zip codes analyzed experienced increases in SNAP application density, ranging from 25% to 360%. While disadvantaged zip codes had higher SNAP application densities at baseline, they experienced a comparatively lower increase across time. Results highlight the staggering need for food assistance as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, including in areas with historically low need.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• supplemental nutrition assistance program
• new orleans
• food insecurity

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Brandy Bonney from the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services for sharing the data used in this paper. In addition, many thanks to Dr. Julie Hernandez from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine for lending her expertise and guidance in using GIS software, providing access to various shapefiles used in this publication, and map editing feedback.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data Availability Statement

Data for this paper were obtained from the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS). Data are available upon request, previous authorization from DCFS.

Additional information

Funding

Supported by a grant from HRSA-MCHB (Grant #T79MC31883).