%0 Journal Article %A Lucie Schmidt %A Lara Shore-Sheppard %A Tara Watson %T The Effect of Safety-Net Programs on Food Insecurity %D 2016 %R 10.3368/jhr.51.3.1013-5987R1 %J Journal of Human Resources %P 589-614 %V 51 %N 3 %X We investigate to what extent major safety-net program benefits affect food insecurity in families. We impute program eligibility and benefits in each state for 2001–2009, accounting for cross-program eligibility rules. We use simulated eligibility and benefits for a nationally representative sample as instruments for imputed eligibility and potential benefits. Among nonimmigrant, low-income, single-parent families, $1,000 in potential cash or food benefits reduces the incidence of food insecurity by 1.1 percentage points on a base of 33 percent. Cash and food both reduce food insecurity. The results highlight the importance of jointly considering a full range of safety-net programs. %U https://jhr.uwpress.org/content/wpjhr/51/3/589.full.pdf