The Food Stamp Program traces its earliest origins back to the Food Stamp Plan, which began in 1939 to help needy families in the Depression era. The modern program began as a pilot project in 1961 and was authorized as a permanent program in 1964. Expansion of the program occurred most dramatically after 1974, when Congress required all States to offer food stamps to low-income households. The Food Stamp Act of 1977 made significant changes in program regulations, tightening eligibility requirements and administration, and removing the requirement that food stamps be purchased by participants. Program growth has continued since then, reaching an all-time high of almost 28 million in March of 1994 before declining to the current participation level of about 17.2 million.
Participation generally peaks in periods of high unemployment, inflation and recession.
58.3 percent of food stamp households include children. 89 percent of all benefits go to households with children or elderly persons. 39.6 percent of households with children were headed by a single parent, the overwhelming majority of whom were women. The average household size is 2.4 persons. Among adult participants, women outnumber men by almost 3 to 1.