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This scoping review aims to summarize the state of the evidence on associations between participation in nonfood social safety net programs (eg, income assistance, housing assistance) in the United States and food- and nutrition insecurity–related outcomes. Six databases were systematically searched for peer-reviewed articles. Included articles (n = 65) reported on studies that examined 10 unique social safety net programs; 8 studies examined program interactions. Twenty studies focused on COVID-19 pandemic-era programs. Fifty-eight studies used food insecurity, food insufficiency, or food hardship as outcomes, and 11 studies used nutrition insecurity–related outcomes. Overall, results suggest that participation in nonfood social safety net programs is associated with reductions in food insecurity. Current evidence for an association between program participation and nutrition insecurity–related outcomes is limited. Further research is warranted on the association between nonfood social safety net programs and nutrition insecurity; potential interactions between social safety net programs; associations between the expiration of pandemic-era programs and food and nutrition insecurity; and how program impacts might differ among populations with persistent disparities in food and nutrition insecurity.
Keywords: COVID-19, Food insecurity, Supportive family policies
Focus Areas: Food Access, Healthy Communities
Resource Type: Journal Article
State: National
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