NE Iowa News

Winneshiek County saw a 7.8 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Winneshiek Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 830 recipients (418 households) in Winneshiek County participated in the Program compared to 900 recipients (435 households) in 2020.

Overall, $1,563,911 in food assistance payments were allocated to Winneshiek County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,065,605 was allocated for Winneshiek 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 Winneshiek County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,185
2013	1,140
2014	1,089
2015	1,076
2016	1,058
2017	965
2018	940
2019	900
2020	830
2021	760