Hispanic English language learner families and food insecurity during COVID-19: Risk factors and systems of food support.

Introduction: Although many low-income families have experienced food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic, rates have been particularly high among low-income Hispanic and immigrant households.

Methods: The present study draws on data from an ongoing longitudinal study of low-income families and children in Tulsa, Oklahoma to examine food insecurity among English Language Learners (ELLs), all of whom were Hispanic and most of whom came from immigrant families.

Results: Findings indicate that, although low-income ELL families were somewhat more likely to experience food insecurity than other low-income families before the pandemic, once COVID-19 erupted, they had 3 times the odds of experiencing food insecurity, even after controlling for prior risk factors and COVID-related income loss. Further, food-insecure ELLs were less likely to receive SNAP benefits than other food-insecure families.

Discussion: Taken with other research, results suggest that because of concerns around immigration status, ELL families may have less access to critical benefits that have supported other families throughout the pandemic, such as SNAP and CARES Act stimulus checks. Thus, to meet the urgent needs of persistent food insecurity, aid should refocus on using rapid response systems with community ties, such as mutual aid organizations and school systems, to provide financial and monetary support to low-income ELL families. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved).