Help after Hardship: Trends and Disparities in Sources of Support following Experiences with Material Hardship

Abstract

When faced with material hardships like missing a rent payment or having telephone service disconnected, where do people find help? Using data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, I examine the receipt of assistance following material hardships. I find that most people do not receive assistance following a hardship, but when people do receive assistance, social ties are a more common source of support than public and private safety net institutions. I find that the likelihood of receiving assistance varies by type of hardship experienced, and there has been a notable increase over time in the likelihood of receiving assistance following telephone service disconnection or utilities payment hardship. The findings also reveal differences across social and demographic groups. Overall, the findings contribute to understandings of how families make ends meet during hard times and draw attention to high levels of unmet need for assistance among households experiencing hardship.