Mapping EBT Store Closures During the COVID-19 Pandemic in a Low-Income, Food-Insecure Community in San Diego

Abstract

(EBT) can help reduce nutritional inequalities among low-income individuals and families experiencing food insecurity. According to the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), nearly all recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) receive benefits via EBT rather than via paper vouchers (3). The transition from physical vouchers to EBT improved enrollment by reducing the stigma associated with paper vouchers and streamlining the process for distribution of benefits (4). Food retailers that accept EBT may be spatially dispersed in ways that make it difficult for low-income residents to access nutritional resources needed to lead a healthy life (5). Proximity to stores that accept EBT supports food security in communities coping with the challenges of poverty.