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AUGUST 2021
SNAP Households Survey -
August Results
Providers (formerly Fresh EBT) is a free mobile app that helps over 5 million low-income families manage their SNAP benefits. To understand how the circumstances in the lives of Providers users are changing, we have been conducting surveys each month.
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August 2021 key findings
The following insights come from a 10-minute multiple choice and open response survey conducted by Providers to a random sample of 4,870 of over 5M Providers users from
August 1 - 14, 2021. All respondents are EBT cardholders.
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02
03
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insight1
INSIGHT 01
The Child Tax Credit reduced housing, food, and financial insecurity
Source: Random sample of Providers users
The July Child Tax Credit reduced hardship
65%
of respondents with children under 18 years old received a payment in July 2021.
The portion of Providers users with children under 18 who received the July Child Tax Credit payment varies across different surveys, ranging from 65-79%.
They were more likely to:
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Say they were very certain they would be able to stay in their current housing for the next 30 days.
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Say they had everything they needed in their home
They were less likely to:
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Have been evicted
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Have slept in a shelter for at least one night in the past month
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Have skipped meals in the past month
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Have less than $25 on hand
However, Latinx respondents living with children under 18 were far less likely to report receiving the first Child Tax Credit payment, compared to white respondents. 62% of white respondents reported receiving the July payment, while only 49% of Latinx respondents said the same.
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Latinx respondents were also more likely to say they don’t know why they didn’t receive the first payment--only 43% of white respondents said they didn’t know why, while 58% of Latinx respondents said the same.
It is the only source of income. We’re scared and worried, but keep optimism alive for our son.
Providers User
Texas
It’s helped out a little but not drastically. The pandemic has seriously affected us and the rent prices being raised has caused our family of 6 to be homeless sometimes we sleep in our car or at a hotel shelters are full
Providers User
California
insight2
INSIGHT 02
Rates of housing insecurity and spending at least one night in a shelter have peaked
Source: Random sample of Providers users
Rates of housing insecurity and spending at least one night in a shelter have peaked
12%
of users are living in unstable housing; the highest level we’ve recorded
4.6%
of users reported spending at least one night in a shelter in the last month; the highest level we’ve recorded
However
44%
of users paid August rent on time, an increase of almost
3 percentage points from July
I have applied for rent help but no one has gotten back to me yet and it’s been over a week my landlord still charges me late fees every day I ended up pawning my title to my car so I could pay rent for the 2 months that was due.
Providers User
Georgia
insight3
INSIGHT 03
Few have received rental assistance, but knowledge of the assistance has increased substantially
Source: Random sample of Providers users
Few have received rental assistance, but knowledge of the assistance has increased substantially
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A little over 18% of respondents in need of assistance have received help with rent, up slightly from 17% last month.
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21.6% said they did not know they could get help with rent;
6pp since last month
Renthelpnm.org has approved my family to pay all my past due bills and rent plus 3 months future payments. Just waiting to receive the funds.
Providers User
California
insights 4
INSIGHT 04
Every food insecurity measure decreased among all Providers users
Source: Random sample of Providers users
In August fewer users reported skipping meals, eating less, visiting a food pantry, not paying a bill, relying on others for meals or going without prescription medication:
July - August Change
Skipped meals
3pp
Eating less
4pp
Visited a food pantry
1pp
Decided not to pay a bill
5pp
Relied on family or friends for meals
3pp
Gone without prescription medicine
2pp
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