Nearly 400,000 Iowans receive food assistance each month in Fiscal Year 2015. According to the Department of Human Services, 12.7% of the state’s population received food assistance. In Washington County, the average number of monthly recipients was 2,220, or about 10% of the county’s population. The total number of Iowans receiving food assistance benefits has dropped since 2013.

To qualify for the program, an individual must be a resident of Iowa and a citizen or legally qualified noncitizen, like a refugee, and have a household income that does not exceed 160% of the federal poverty level; for a family of three to qualify they have to have a gross annual income below approximately $31,000. Also, 85% of those who receive food assistance also receive Medicaid or Family Investment Program benefits.

State of Iowa – 394,691
Henry – 2,789
Iowa – 1,080
Jefferson – 2,244
Johnson – 11,153
Keokuk – 1,206
Louisa – 1,345
Washington – 2,220