Memorandum: Comparative Food Insecurity in Washington State
Published November 12, 2020, this memorandum outlines the various ways in which food insecurity has been measured prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, this memorandum describes recent trends in food insecurity and reliance on federal and state food assistance programs during COVID-19.
Initial Findings
Several organizations, such as the United States Department of Agriculture and the United States Census Bureau, have developed tools to measure food insecurity prior to and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Research comparing different approaches to estimating food insecurity has shown that more households report food insecurity when asked to report over longer periods of time compared to those asked to report over shorter periods of time. The burden of food insecurity both nationally and in Washington State has risen sharply in response to the economic crisis spurred by COVID-19 and is particularly high in low-income households, households of color, and households with children.
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Materials
Publication Date: November 12, 2020
Author(s): James Buszkiewicz, Jennifer J. Otten, and Adam Drewnowski