Tim Slack
The increase in participation in the food stamp program after the 2008-09 recession was clustered in certain areas and somewhat different from some media reports and past patterns, sociologist Tim Slack of Louisiana State University reported in Choices magazine.

The study showed that the major increases in food stamps, formally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, were concentrated in Arizona, Florida, Michigan and Nevada, areas plagued by both unemployment and reductions in housing values. There were dramatic increases in areas of large Latino populations, which was probably a result of the decline in construction.

SNAP participation increases in small towns were higher than has been reported.

But counter to expectations, increases in the share of families headed by women, older populations, black populations, and less educated populations — groups that are often more vulnerable to economic hardship — were not as high as perceived.

In terms of policy, Slack wrote, “Regarding the Great Recession and future downturns, SNAP was especially responsive to the increased economic hardship wrought by the crisis. In short, the program did what it is designed to do.”

▪ Choices — How Did the Great Recession Impact the Geography of Food Stamp Receipt?