Predictors of Food Insecurity and Food Assistance Program Usage Among Puerto Ricans before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Holyoke, Massachusetts

Background/Objectives: With a population of 5.8 million, Puerto Ricans are the second largest Hispanic/Latino group in the United States. Puerto Rican households often face elevated rates of food insecurity. Frequently, households experiencing food insecurity turn to federal and emergency food programs for immediate or long-term assistance. The study examines factors related to food insecurity and participation in food assistance programs among Puerto Ricans living in Holyoke, Massachusetts, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: Using an interplay of community-based participatory recruitment, purposive sampling, and web-based tools, we collected 284 survey responses from April 2022 to August 2022. Pearson's chi-square, logistic regression, and hierarchical linear models assessed relationships between demographic attributes, household factors, and food access outcomes. Results: The factors of children in the household and age significantly influenced food assistance participation and food insecurity outcomes. Puerto Rican heritage and lower educational attainment were predictors of access to federal food assistance programs. Low-income households disproportionately relied on emergency food programs and experienced food insecurity. Our findings indicate that demographic characteristics and household factors intersect and significantly influence food insecurity and food assistance safety net access. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that the COVID-19 pandemic made it difficult for households to obtain safe and nutritious food consistently. Our findings demonstrate that the impact of the pandemic was not evenly distributed across demographics and households.