Ida County saw a 2.3 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa’s Food Assistance Program from 2019 to 2020, according to a Ida Guide analysis of data from the state’s Department of Human Services.
In 2020, 554 recipients (257 households) in Ida County participated in the Program compared to 567 recipients (253 households) in 2019.
Overall, $1,033,968 in food assistance payments were allocated to Ida County recipients in 2020.
In 2019, $670,500 was allocated for Ida County program participants.
Qualified recipients in the Program are eligible to receive financial assistance in the form of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards, which then can be used to buy groceries. The Program is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s larger Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Number of Food Assistance Program Participants in Ida County 2011-2020
| Year | Number of recipients |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 703 |
| 2012 | 735 |
| 2013 | 733 |
| 2014 | 685 |
| 2015 | 680 |
| 2016 | 636 |
| 2017 | 570 |
| 2018 | 539 |
| 2019 | 567 |
| 2020 | 554 |
