# Presentation: 288898

## Are You Getting the Recommended Daily Allotment of Federal Nutrition Dollars?

- The Federal Response to Nutrition Assistance

- Kate FinkOffice of Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation  Food and Nutrition Service, USDA

## To increase awareness of the Federal nutrition programs that serve homeless families
To identify and to begin to resolve the barriers that homeless families face
To identify possible Federal funding streams to help increase access to these mainstream programs

- To increase awareness of the Federal nutrition programs that serve homeless families
- To identify and to begin to resolve the barriers that homeless families face
- To identify possible Federal funding streams to help increase access to these mainstream programs

## 
15 programs
$45.9 billion in FY 2004	
43% of USDA budget
Serve 1 in 6 Americans

- 15 programs
- $45.9 billion in FY 2004
- 43% of USDA budget
- Serve 1 in 6 Americans

## Food Stamp Program: Provides a monthly electronic benefit to a wide range of needy people that can be used to purchase a wide variety of food 

 Not restricted to specific groups of people
 National rules, State administration
 25.5 million people received $2.3 billion in benefits
   (01/05)
 $91.58 per person per month
 54% of all eligible persons participated    in 2002

**Food Stamp Program**: Provides a monthly electronic benefit to a wide range of needy people that can be used to purchase a wide variety of food
-  Not restricted to specific groups of people
-  National rules, State administration
-  25.5 million people received $2.3 billion in benefits
-    (01/05)
-  $91.58 per person per month
-  54% of all eligible persons participated    in 2002

## Rules for Homeless Families in the Food Stamp Program
 $143 homeless shelter deduction for those   paying for their shelter
 Can purchase prepared meals in certain   authorized locations

- Rules for Homeless Families in the Food Stamp Program
-  $143 homeless shelter deduction for those   paying for their shelter
-  Can purchase prepared meals in certain   authorized locations

## Child Nutrition Programs
School Lunch Program
School Breakfast Program
After-school Snack Program
Child & Adult Care Food Program
Summer Food Service Program

- Child Nutrition Programs
- School Lunch Program
- School Breakfast Program
- After-school Snack Program
- Child & Adult Care Food Program
- Summer Food Service Program

## National School Lunch Program: Allows low-income children access to nutritious lunches and the opportunity to practice skills learned in classroom nutrition education 

  Schools are reimbursed for meals
  29.5 million students participated (01/05)
  $6.7 billion spent on meals in FY2004
  49% of meals were free, 10% were reduced price
  Nearly one half of school children participate

**National School Lunch Program**: Allows low-income children access to nutritious lunches and the opportunity to practice skills learned in classroom nutrition education
-   Schools are reimbursed for meals
-   29.5 million students participated (01/05)
-   $6.7 billion spent on meals in FY2004
-   49% of meals were free, 10% were reduced price
-   Nearly one half of school children participate

## The School Breakfast Program: Provides cash assistance to States for nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions 

 Schools/institutions are reimbursed for meals
 8.5 million students participated (01/05)
 Cost $1.8 billion total in FY2004
 1.5 billion breakfasts served in FY2004
 73% were free and 9% were reduced price

**The School Breakfast Program**: Provides cash assistance to States for nonprofit breakfast programs in schools and residential childcare institutions
-  Schools/institutions are reimbursed for meals
-  8.5 million students participated (01/05)
-  Cost $1.8 billion total in FY2004
-  1.5 billion breakfasts served in FY2004
-  73% were free and 9% were reduced price

## Summer Food Service Program (SFSP): Ensures that children in lower-income areas can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast  

 Institutions are reimbursed for meals
 Served 116 million meals during the summer   months of 2004
 30,716 sites in FY2004

**Summer Food Service Program (SFSP)**: Ensures that children in lower-income areas can continue to receive nutritious meals during long school vacations, when they do not have access to school lunch or breakfast
-  Institutions are reimbursed for meals
-  Served 116 million meals during the summer   months of 2004
-  30,716 sites in FY2004

## Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP): Provides healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving day care  

  Reimburses meal costs
  2.97 million participants ate 14.8 million meals    (1/05)
  20,274 sponsors, including 257 homeless centers
  Total cost: $2 billion in FY2004

**Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP):** Provides healthy meals and snacks to children and adults receiving day care
-   Reimburses meal costs
-   2.97 million participants ate 14.8 million meals    (1/05)
-   20,274 sponsors, including 257 homeless centers
-   Total cost: $2 billion in FY2004

## Rules for Homeless Families in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
 Shelters may get reimbursement for meals    served to homeless families
 Homeless youth up to age 18 are eligible for    reimbursed meals served at shelters

- Rules for Homeless Families in the Child and Adult Care Food Program
-  Shelters may get reimbursement for meals    served to homeless families
-  Homeless youth up to age 18 are eligible for    reimbursed meals served at shelters

## Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC): Safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 at nutritional risk by providing nutritious food to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care 
  Provides vouchers to participants
  Nearly 8 million participants in average month (FY2005)
  50% children, 26% infants
  Nearly one half of all babies born in the United States
  $4.96 billion cost 

**Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)**: Safeguards the health of low-income women, infants, & children up to age 5 at nutritional risk by providing nutritious food to supplement diets, information on healthy eating, and referrals to health care
-   Provides vouchers to participants
-   Nearly 8 million participants in average month (FY2005)
-   50% children, 26% infants
-   Nearly one half of all babies born in the United States
-   $4.96 billion cost

## Rules for Homeless Families in the WIC program
 Homelessness is one of the nutritional risk   categories

- Rules for Homeless Families in the WIC program
-  Homelessness is one of the nutritional risk   categories

## Food Distribution Programs: Includes the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)  
  FDPIR gives commodity packages to its participants
  NSIP provides cash and commodities to DHHS  
  CSFP & TEFAP provide commodities to institutions
  Total cost: $673 million in FY2004

**Food Distribution Programs:** Includes the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP), Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP), and The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP)
-   FDPIR gives commodity packages to its participants
-   NSIP provides cash and commodities to DHHS
-   CSFP & TEFAP provide commodities to institutions
-   Total cost: $673 million in FY2004

## What Federal Help Exists?

## Barriers to Assistance: 
Actual and Mythical

- Actual and Mythical

## Food Stamp Program:
All applicants need a permanent address to participate.
In truth, a homeless person does not need a physical, mailing, or other address to file an application. Also, there can be no residence requirements. 
Because the family lives in a shelter that provides meals, the family is ineligible for FSP.
A homeless person or family can reside in a shelter that provides temporary accommodations and still qualify for FSP, even if the shelter provides some of the individual’s meals.

- Food Stamp Program:
- All applicants need a permanent address to participate.
- In truth, a homeless person does not need a physical, mailing, or other address to file an application. Also, there can be no residence requirements.
- Because the family lives in a shelter that provides meals, the family is ineligible for FSP.
- A homeless person or family can reside in a shelter that provides temporary accommodations and still qualify for FSP, even if the shelter provides some of the individual’s meals.

## A picture ID is necessary.
Not true. Any document that can reasonably establish the applicant’s identity must be accepted. This includes a collateral contact, birth certificate, voter’s registration card, or wage stubs.
Homeless people cannot purchase “hot” meals, and, they face problems of food storage.
The definition of eligible foods does not allow the purchase of “hot” meals prepared by supermarkets or grocery store delis. This, coupled with food storage problems, makes using the benefit more difficult. However, homeless people are allowed to purchase prepared meals from some authorized food stores.

- A picture ID is necessary.
- Not true. Any document that can reasonably establish the applicant’s identity must be accepted. This includes a collateral contact, birth certificate, voter’s registration card, or wage stubs.
- Homeless people cannot purchase “hot” meals, and, they face problems of food storage.
- The definition of eligible foods does not allow the purchase of “hot” meals prepared by supermarkets or grocery store delis. This, coupled with food storage problems, makes using the benefit more difficult. However, homeless people are allowed to purchase prepared meals from some authorized food stores.

## Child and Adult Care Food Program:
Emergency shelters cannot participate.
Not true. They can participate as an independent institution or as a sponsoring organization.
Emergency shelters must be licensed child care centers.
Emergency shelters are not required to be licensed or approved to provide daycare, but they must meet appropriate State or local health and safety standards.
Shelters are partially reimbursed for the meals served.
Shelters receive a single set of reimbursement rates-free.  They may serve up to 3 meals at no charge to each eligible child.

- Child and Adult Care Food Program:
- Emergency shelters cannot participate.
- Not true. They can participate as an independent institution or as a sponsoring organization.
- Emergency shelters must be licensed child care centers.
- Emergency shelters are not required to be licensed or approved to provide daycare, but they must meet appropriate State or local health and safety standards.
- Shelters are partially reimbursed for the meals served.
- Shelters receive a single set of reimbursement rates-free.  They may serve up to 3 meals at no charge to each eligible child.

## Only shelters for battered women can participate.
Not true. Any facility whose primary purpose is to provide temporary shelter to homeless families with children is eligible to participate.
Only shelters that provide overnight accommodations can participate.
Not true. A day shelter may be eligible to participate if it provides a safe place and address for the homeless family for a temporary period of time.

- Only shelters for battered women can participate.
- Not true. Any facility whose primary purpose is to provide temporary shelter to homeless families with children is eligible to participate.
- Only shelters that provide overnight accommodations can participate.
- Not true. A day shelter may be eligible to participate if it provides a safe place and address for the homeless family for a temporary period of time.

## Shelters are only reimbursed for homeless youth up to age 12.
The 2004 Reauthorization increased the age limit from 12 to 18 for homeless youth served through CACFP by homeless shelters. Shelters may now receive reimbursement for meals to these children.
WIC:
Homeless children cannot participate in WIC.
Not true. In fact, being homeless meets the nutritional risk qualification. If the family’s income is low enough, the family is eligible to participate.

- Shelters are only reimbursed for homeless youth up to age 12.
- The 2004 Reauthorization increased the age limit from 12 to 18 for homeless youth served through CACFP by homeless shelters. Shelters may now receive reimbursement for meals to these children.
- WIC:
- Homeless children cannot participate in WIC.
- Not true. In fact, being homeless meets the nutritional risk qualification. If the family’s income is low enough, the family is eligible to participate.

## School Meals Programs:
A child living with another household temporarily cannot qualify for free meals.
A child or family may temporarily reside with another household and still be considered homeless. In these cases, the household size and income of the host family are not taken into account. All homeless children qualify for free meals.

- School Meals Programs:
- A child living with another household temporarily cannot qualify for free meals.
- A child or family may temporarily reside with another household and still be considered homeless. In these cases, the household size and income of the host family are not taken into account. All homeless children qualify for free meals.

## 
Funding Opportunities

- Funding Opportunities

## FSP Funding:
Awarded a total of 16 outreach grants totaling nearly $2 million to study innovative outreach techniques  

Awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $10 million to States and community-based agencies through the FSP Participation Grants to help simplify food stamp applications and eligibility systems through the use of innovative strategies 

$5 million is available in FY 2005 for FSP Participation Grants.  Grant applications are due Tuesday, April 26, 2005

- FSP Funding:
- Awarded a total of 16 outreach grants totaling nearly $2 million to study innovative outreach techniques
- Awarded 11 grants totaling nearly $10 million to States and community-based agencies through the FSP Participation Grants to help simplify food stamp applications and eligibility systems through the use of innovative strategies
- $5 million is available in FY 2005 for FSP Participation Grants.  Grant applications are due **Tuesday,** **April 26, 2005**

## Participation Grants—Who can apply?
State agencies administering FSP
State or local governments
Agencies providing health or welfare services
Public health or educational entities
Private nonprofit entities

- Participation Grants—Who can apply?
- State agencies administering FSP
- State or local governments
- Agencies providing health or welfare services
- Public health or educational entities
- Private nonprofit entities

## Participation Grants—What do they want?
Demonstrated partnerships between State and nonprofit, including faith-based and community-based organizations
$1 million of the $5 million is set aside for proposals demonstrating this partnership
Applications that facilitate the processing of applications for FSP and Prescription Drug Program and possibly others such as TANF, Medicaid, and Child Care
At least one award will be made that coordinates processing of applications for the two programs 
Staff contact: Monte Penney, Monte.Penney@fns.usda.gov

- Participation Grants—What do they want?
- Demonstrated partnerships between State and nonprofit, including faith-based and community-based organizations
- $1 million of the $5 million is set aside for proposals demonstrating this partnership
- Applications that facilitate the processing of applications for FSP and Prescription Drug Program and possibly others such as TANF, Medicaid, and Child Care
- At least one award will be made that coordinates processing of applications for the two programs
- Staff contact: Monte Penney, Monte.Penney@fns.usda.gov

## Outreach Grants:
 The purpose of these grants is to study    innovative outreach techniques
 FSP has offered outreach grants since 2004  
 No projects have focused on homelessness 
 FY2006, we expect to grant more outreach   grants (subject to appropriation); keep watching   our Web site

http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/default.htm

- Outreach Grants:
-  The purpose of these grants is to study    innovative outreach techniques
-  FSP has offered outreach grants since 2004
-  No projects have focused on homelessness
-  FY2006, we expect to grant more outreach   grants (subject to appropriation); keep watching   our Web site
- http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/outreach/default.htm

## Food Stamp Outreach Coalition listserv:  E-mail fsoc@fns.usda.gov to stay connected to the latest in outreach
Participation Grant information: monte.penney@fns.usda.gov or 703-305-2404 (staff contact) or lynn.rodgers@fns.usda.gov (Grants Officer)
Information on Grants on the Web at http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/FeaturedAreas_menus/FA_Grants.htm
Katherine.fink@fns.usda.gov, 703-305-2106

- Food Stamp Outreach Coalition listserv:  E-mail _[fsoc@fns.usda.gov](mailto:fsoc@fns.usda.gov)_ to stay connected to the latest in outreach
- Participation Grant information: _[monte.penney@fns.usda.gov](mailto:monte.penney@fns.usda.gov)_ or 703-305-2404 (staff contact) or _[lynn.rodgers@fns.usda.gov](mailto:lynn.rodgers@fns.usda.gov)_ (Grants Officer)
- Information on Grants on the Web at _[http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/FeaturedAreas_menus/FA_Grants.htm](http://www.fns.usda.gov/fm/FeaturedAreas_menus/FA_Grants.htm)_
- Katherine.fink@fns.usda.gov, 703-305-2106