Plymouth County saw a 9.6 percent decrease in the number of households participating in Iowa’s Food Assistance Program from 2019 to 2020, according to a Plymouth County Guide analysis of data from the state’s Department of Human Services.
In 2020, 554 households (1,131 residents) in Plymouth County participated in the Program compared to 613 households (1,304 residents) in 2019.
Overall, $2,138,155 in food assistance payments were allocated to Plymouth County households in 2020.
In 2019, $1,639,794 was allocated for Plymouth County households in the Program.
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.
Plymouth County Households Participating in Iowa’s Food Assistance Program 2011-2020
| Year | Number of households |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 593 |
| 2012 | 668 |
| 2013 | 721 |
| 2014 | 714 |
| 2015 | 682 |
| 2016 | 674 |
| 2017 | 677 |
| 2018 | 648 |
| 2019 | 613 |
| 2020 | 554 |
