Accessibility to SNAP Accepting Retail Locations

Research suggests that inaccessibility to food stores contributes to poor diet and health status of individuals living in predominantly low income or racial minority geographic areas. Previous studies on geographic access to food stores have focused on defining or examining `food deserts' using a variety of methods to quantify the environmental effects of inaccessibility. This paper extends past work by comparing specific at-risk populations' accessibility to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) accepting locations using network-based representations of specific personal transportation costs. The SNAP program attempts to alleviate food insecurity among low-income groups who qualify for assistance. Despite these monetary benefits, researchers note that it is difficult to determine whether food insecurity has been relieved or not within households accepting SNAP benefits. Using spatial analytic methods, this paper focuses on understanding distribution of potentially vulnerable demographic populations at the Census block group level and their accessibility to SNAP accepting locations. Leon County, Florida is used as a test case. Network-based approaches are employed using GIS to gauge access in terms of walking, automobile, and public transit. Ultimately, the goal of this thesis is to better understand possible differences in accessibility across socioeconomic groups, emphasizing characteristics such as vehicle ownership, race, and income. Potential policy implications of the work include addressing questions of whether certain transportation costs should be subsidized for individuals receiving SNAP benefits. Findings will contribute to the burgeoning literature at the intersection of geography, health policy, urban planning, and transportation that seek to alleviate the causes of food insecurity.