top of page
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.
.png)
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.
01
02
03
04
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:
-
Say they were very certain they would be able to stay in their current housing for the next 30 days.
-
Say they had everything they needed in their home
They were less likely to:
-
Have been evicted
-
Have slept in a shelter for at least one night in the past month
-
Have skipped meals in the past month
-
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.
-
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
-
A little over 18% of respondents in need of assistance have received help with rent, up slightly from 17% last month.
-
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
bottom of page