Food and Housing Insecurity in Nevada During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Area of Science:

• Public Health and Social Sciences
• Socioeconomic Determinants of Health
• Health Disparities Research

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing concerns about food and housing insecurity in the U.S., disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations.
• Nevada experienced a significant rise in unemployment due to pandemic-related shutdowns in key industries like gaming, tourism, and hospitality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze changes in food insecurity (FI) and housing insecurity (HI) among Nevada adults from 2020 to 2021.
• To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with FI and HI during the pandemic.
• To examine racial and ethnic disparities in food insecurity experiences.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from two statewide telephone surveys of Nevada adults conducted in 2020 (n=1000) and 2021 (n=1002).
• Comparison of food and housing insecurity rates between the two survey years.
• Longitudinal analysis to assess changes in insecurity prevalence within demographic groups.

Main Results:

• Food insecurity declined by 8.24 percentage points (30.2% to 21.96%), while housing insecurity increased by 12.58 percentage points (12.27% to 24.85%) between 2020 and 2021.
• Health status emerged as a significant factor for both HI and FI. People of color, particularly Asians/Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders, faced higher FI rates.
• While White individuals saw a significant decrease in FI, the reduction for non-White participants was not statistically significant, indicating persistent disparities.

Conclusions:

• The findings underscore the critical need for enhanced support systems addressing the food and housing needs of people of color and individuals with disabilities.
• Further investigation into the high food insecurity rates among Asian/Pacific Islander populations in 2021 is warranted.
• Urgent solutions are required to mitigate the rising prevalence of housing insecurity in Nevada.