For Baltimore’s Poor, Online Grocery Purchasing and Delivery Can Save Lives
The COVID-19 pandemic poses widespread health risks for low-income Baltimoreans, particularly in the area of food security. As we wait for politicians in DC to act on loosening SNAP EBT restrictions and increasing SNAP amounts for low-income families, we should not forget the persistent problem of food deserts and food security in communities like my own in West Baltimore.
With a poverty rate of 21.8% — well above the national average — Baltimore faces serious challenges in food security, particularly in ensuring access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Grocery retailers, particularly small-scale retailers in low-income areas like my own, are already struggling to stay in business. If the economy continues to sink into recession, these retailers may be wiped out altogether and food deserts will undoubtedly grow. When these food deserts are coupled with the limited capacity of food pantries in Baltimore to respond to overwhelming need, we may soon find that food, not COVID-19, will become the predominant subject of concern for low-income families.
The problem is even more challenging for low-income seniors. While many Baltimore grocery stores have provided seniors-only shopping hours at certain times, low-income seniors face the persistent problem of not having reliable transportation. By forgoing early-morning shopping, seniors may be particularly exposed to COVID-19 at area grocery stores.
A good solution to this problem has been the SNAP Online Purchasing program. This Program is administered through the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and allows low income households to use their SNAP EBT to make online purchases. The program has already been piloted in New York and Washington state — and has generated positive results.
While the SNAP online purchasing program is helpful, it can be enhanced to accommodate households with barriers to mobility. In current programs, SNAP benefits cannot be used to pay for fees of any type, such as delivery, service, or convenience fees. For elderly Baltimoreans, this service matters. Many elderly persons do not have cars and with the rapid decrease in public transportation, it becomes even more difficult for them to access healthy food options.
Often, delivery from stores like Walmart is free after passing a certain threshold, often around $50. However, even if delivery cannot be covered, the mere ability to order online for curbside pickup is helpful to limit public exposure to COVID-19. Policymakers at state and federal levels should consider the realities facing low-income families, particularly elderly persons, and seek to rapidly allow WIC and SNAP online purchasing program in Baltimore and allow SNAP, WIC, or another funding stream to cover delivery.
Real talk: Baltimore’s low-income families are hurting. They need access to healthy and nutritious food. If there are already programs in place in other states that show promising results, why not implement them here in Baltimore? Doing so will address the dietary needs of low-income families and also generate two immensely positive externalities. First, by prioritizing local small-scale retail grocery stores, this policy change could offset major loses that local retailers have sustained as a result of this pandemic. Secondly, by providing healthy food options for our most vulnerable, we could see potential savings in healthcare costs of diverted trips to overwhelmed hospitals.
My hope is that in these unparalleled times, we can find ways to make life better for our most vulnerable residents. Expanding grocery delivery and online ordering to SNAP and WIC users is one way to do this. I am confident that if we act now, we will undoubtedly save lives — both during the current crisis and beyond.