Assessing Effects of Food Stamp Program Participation on Food Security in Female-Headed Households: Do Informal Supports Matter?

The food stamp program is one of the largest federal welfare initiatives undertaken to address the problem of hunger and nutrient intake among households in poverty. We build on previous research by examining effects of participating in the program on the food security of vulnerable households (N = 23,360), using data from the Food Security Supplement to the Current Population Survey for 2003. We also explore the moderating effects of informal food assistance on this relationship. Our results suggest that food stamp-takeup and informal food assistance are important in understanding food security in vulnerable households. Also, a number of individual characteristics are associated with household food sufficiency. Implications for practice and scholarship are presented.