An overwhelming majority of rural and urban Americans support the permanent expansion of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) food benefits, according to a survey by Purdue University Center for Food Demand Analysis and Sustainability (CFDAS).

Food Research & Action Center reports that CDFAS surveyed 1,200 Americans and found that most respondents favor the continuation of federally-funded SNAP Emergency Allotments. A Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Pandemic Public Health Emergency Declaration (PHE) temporarily expanded SNAP benefits and eligibility during the earlier stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, but they will eventually expire.

Food insecurity affected one in seven of the respondents in the poll, or 14.2 percent. Rural respondents reported a food insecurity rate of nearly one in four and said they had disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake. According to CDFAS, rural households have a higher likelihood of living paycheck to paycheck, which correlates with higher food insecurity risks. Additionally, food insecurity is historically more prevalent among minorities and marginalized groups.

“As one might expect, current economic conditions appear to have further disadvantaged [rural households],” said Purdue professor Jayson Lusk. “For example, they face not only significantly higher food prices today than four months ago, but higher gas prices are likely affecting purchasing decisions among those who have to drive many miles to a grocery store.”

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