New Article: Has the Pandemic Changed Anti-Hunger Policy Forever?

Posted by Spotlight on Poverty and Opportunity on October 19, 2021

Politico senior food and agriculture reporter Helena Bottemiller Evich speaks with Spotlight about what policymakers have learned about curbing food insecurity during the pandemic and what those insights may mean for future policy. She describes an emerging consensus among economists that the infusion of cash for working families during the pandemic has been successful, but she says it is difficult to predict how permanent the bipartisan political momentum around these policies will be. While the data shows a positive impact of giving aid to families, she stresses the need to recognize persisting racial inequities and consider ways to more accurately measure rates of food insecurity in different subpopulations. Bottemiller Evich believes it is too soon to tell if COVID will “end hunger in America,” but believes the government response has had a significant impact on reducing overall hardship.

Read more.