Perspectives on COVID-19-related relief measures and experience of food insecurity among low-wage worker families in two US cities

To explore how 2020–2022 federal COVID-19 relief measures impacted food security, economic hardship and housing stability, we interviewed low-income workers in Minneapolis, MN and Raleigh, NC. Participants were a subset of 40 from a larger study with at least one child. We identified themes including mechanisms of potential impact: food assistance, increased household cash, promoting housing stability, and reducing household expenses. No single measure ameliorated hardship. Participants reported healthier food behaviors. Flexible relief measures allowed people to spend according to their needs. These effects were not durable because relief measures were temporary. Nonetheless, relief measures likely averted worse outcomes.