SE Iowa News

Van Buren County saw a 1.6 percent increase in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Van Buren Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 685 recipients (324 households) in Van Buren County participated in the Program compared to 674 recipients (324 households) in 2020.

Overall, $1,284,978 in food assistance payments were allocated to Van Buren County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $818,424 was allocated for Van Buren 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 Van Buren County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	982
2013	958
2014	876
2015	802
2016	784
2017	795
2018	756
2019	674
2020	685
2021	652