HPS
Providers Household Pulse Survey: January 2024
The following insights come from a <10-minute multiple choice and open response survey conducted by Providers. This month, responses came from 3,062 randomly selected households out of over 5M Providers users from January 1 - January 14, 2024. All respondents are EBT cardholders.
FINANCIAL INSECURITY
Household debt climbed in several categories from December to January, with credit card debt surging nearly 60%.
The share of surveyed users owing credit card debt rose 57% from 35% in the December survey to 55% this past month.
The share of respondents with past-due rent or mortgage payments also rose 29% to 22% overall, and the percentage of respondents owing on utility bills rose 35% to 38% overall.
29% of respondents took loans from family or friends in the last month, a 27% increase from December.
“I've had to borrow money from neighbors and I really don't know how I'm going to pay back.” – Johnny, WI
FOOD INSECURITY
Food insecurity indicators ticked up slightly post-holidays as grocery inflation continues to weigh households down.
The share of respondents that skipped meals, ate less, or relied on family and friends for food in the last month all rose between 2-4%.
37% of surveyed users skipped meals in the last month, a 28% year-on-year increase, and 45% of surveyed users ate less in the last month, a 41% year-on-year increase.
90% of respondents reported that their basic monthly food purchases cost more now than a year ago.
“EBT is the only reason I have eaten.” – Arion, OR
“I received a food box for Christmas from the Sunshine Division. I was so happy I cried. It would have been the first Christmas I would have gone without a Christmas dinner. I used the leftover turkey for almost a week in meals I made. December was the first month I did not run out of my SNAP a week or two before I got it again in about 5 months. Bless everyone that makes these things happen.” – Tracy, OR
HOUSING INSECURITY
January saw the lowest levels of housing instability in over two years.
The share of respondents in unstable housing (e.g motel, car, or shelter) fell 8% to 11.4% overall – the lowest levels since August 2021.
The share of respondents who had their utilities shut off in the last month dropped 15% to 8.7% overall – the lowest levels since last March.
Utility shut-offs in the last month are higher among households of color, affecting 12% of Black and 11% of Latinx respondents, compared to 7% of white respondents.
“I've moved in with my family to save money and help my ailing mother. We had hoped I could finally be on my own but the cost of living is too much for one person to live alone. It's completely unfathomable.” – Ember, PA
“Me and my children are currently staying at a motel due to inflation...The community resources are not really helpful and they make people feel uncomfortable and it's really hard to get help through government agencies. So I just do all I can like selling plasma to help make ends meet.” – Charmaine, DE