Central Iowa Times

Hamilton County saw a 4.2 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Hamilton Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 961 recipients (475 households) in Hamilton County participated in the Program compared to 1,003 recipients (490 households) in 2020.

Overall, $1,831,001 in food assistance payments were allocated to Hamilton County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,289,111 was allocated for Hamilton 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 Hamilton County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,870
2013	1,893
2014	1,717
2015	1,618
2016	1,505
2017	1,266
2018	1,167
2019	1,003
2020	961
2021	946