University of Arizona students who interviewed 117 low-income residents across Pima County found that 76% of them are severely burdened by housing costs, which means they spend more than 50% of their income on rent.
The students presented their findings on these and other poverty-related issues at a recent community forum. They were taking part in a 10-year-old program, Poverty in Tucson Field Workshop, part of the Tucson Poverty Project, in the universityâs School of Sociology in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.
In 2025, a cohort of 37 students conducted more than 280 interviews with low-income residents. At the time of the interviews, 117 respondents were living below the poverty line, with 49 reporting extreme poverty, defined as income less than 50% of the poverty line for the household size.
The students' research showed that the federal government shutdown in the fall increased financial strain because 55% of the interviewees were dependent on food subsidies through the U.S.-funded SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).Â
âThe 2025 workshop was only two weeks into our data collection when the federal government shutdown led to the disruption of essential social services, including SNAP,â said Brian Mayer, a professor of sociology and director of the Tucson Poverty Project. âFor the households we interviewed, this was both a major source of stress and anxiety as well as a direct impact on their ability to put food on the table. Rising food prices added to that pressure, with 82% reporting higher grocery costs over the past year.â
Student Sophia Hartel speaks with a community member about food insecurity at the Poverty in Tucson Field Workshop, a collection of student research from a course in the universityâs School of Sociology on major poverty-related issues including food insecurity, rising costs, health insurance concerns and transportation barriers.
Rebecca Ursule, a political science major from the Democratic Republic of Congo, said in a UA news release that she found through the research that many residents facing food insecurity are unable to access local food banks because of transportation barriers. During the interviews, some respondents talked about bus distances and schedules not aligning with food bank hours.
âOne recommendation I think could help is using mobile markets,â Ursule said. âWe have to bring resources to those who need them most.â
Sophia Hartel, Ursuleâs teammate on the project, said she was most surprised to find that food insecurity affected residents across economic spectrums, adding that she interviewed people who were fully employed and still couldnât afford food.
In terms of housing, data from the workshop showed that affordable housing is a key challenge every year. âIn many cases, respondents reported rent increases of $100 to $600, forcing families to make difficult choices between housing and essentials such as groceries, medicine, or health care,â the UA news release said.Â
Data showed that housing instability is driven by factors including evictions, unsafe living conditions and sudden cost increases, and that emergency rental assistance, home repair grants and rebates are important short-term supports, while closing wage gaps is essential for long-term housing stability, the project reported.
The data also showed that worry about losing health coverage was widespread. About 72% of residents interviewed were concerned they will lose health coverage, and more than half of respondents were very concerned about potential Medicaid cuts.
As a takeaway, Ursule said it is important for policy-makers to find âpeople-centered solutionsâ and meet low-income people âwhere they are at.â
