Theorizing on neo public assistance: How do race and class impact resource uptake and behavior following disaster?

• Published in: Social science & medicine (1982) Vol. 314; p. 115464
• Main Authors: Ezell, Jerel M., Olson, Brooke, Ghosh, Arnab, Chase, Elizabeth C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2022
• Subjects: Austerity; Disasters; Flint water crisis; Health behaviors; Health literacy; Humans; Lead; Neoliberalism; Public Assistance; Risk Reduction Behavior; Water; Austerity; Health literacy; Health behaviors; Flint water crisis; Public assistance; Neoliberalism
• ISSN: 0277-9536; 1873-5347
• DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115464

The consequences of environmental disasters and other ecologic and communal crises are frequently worst in racially/ethnically minoritized and low-income populations relative to other groups. This disproportionality may create or deepen patterns of governmental distrust and stoke health promotion disengagement in these groups. To date, there has been limited contextualization of how historically disenfranchised populations utilize government-administered or facilitated resources following such disasters. Focusing on the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, we examine and theorize on the usage of neo public assistance, free risk reduction resources that are provided to disaster survivors as a liminal means of redressing ills created and/or insufficiently mitigated by the state. We surveyed 331 Flint residents, evaluating their usage of four neo public assistance resources following the FWC, finding low to moderate uptake: 131 residents (39.6%) indicated that they obtained blood lead level (BLL) screenings, 216 (65.3%) had their tap water tested for lead (Pb) and other contaminants, 137 (41.4%) had their home water infrastructure replaced, and 293 (88.5%) had acquired bottled water at community distribution sites. Unemployment, receiving public benefits, and lacking reliable transportation and stable housing were associated with lower uptake of some resources. Compared to White and “Other” race individuals, Black residents were generally more likely to acquire/utilize these resources, suggesting heightened concerns and health promotion proclivities even in the face of observed macro and individual-level challenges. Potential reasons and implications are discussed. •Use of crisis recovery resources (neo public assistance) was low to moderate.•In general, Black residents were more likely to use neo public assistance.•Most residents kept using bottled water long after tap water was declared safe.•Interplay of limited awareness, trust, and capacity likely impacted overall uptake.