South DSM News

Madison County saw an 11.6 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Madison Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 822 recipients (409 households) in Madison County participated in the Program compared to 930 recipients (434 households) in 2020.

Overall, $1,553,987 in food assistance payments were allocated to Madison County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $1,181,983 was allocated for Madison 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 Madison County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	1,382
2013	1,354
2014	1,327
2015	1,307
2016	1,198
2017	1,139
2018	1,032
2019	930
2020	822
2021	726