Authored by Craig Gundersen, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Iowa State University; Dean Jolliffe, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service; and Laura Tiehen, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. This report, as part of the Working Paper Series of the National Poverty Center (NPC), explores variation in State policies and data from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) to analyze food insecurity rates between Food Stamp program participants and non-participants.

This resource, through Mathematica Policy Research, reviews State food stamp participation rates to measure the effectiveness of the food stamp program and the program's ability to reach its target population.

This article, through the Urban Institute, reviews information on the Food Stamp Program, which provided $200 a month on average to participating households during fiscal year 2004. However, many eligible families do not enroll in the program. The authors summarize the effectiveness of 18 local outreach projects to reach out to those who do not apply for the program through technology and partnerships.

This year, the food stamp program is currently serving 25 million people across the country. This represents an increase of 8 million participants since 2000. This article from the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities reviews reasons for such growth and implications for the future.

This article reviews the effectiveness of the food stamp program by assessing the extent to which the program can reach its target population. In 2004, 38 million people were eligible for food stamps in any given month, and only 23 million participated in the program. Participation rates were higher among lower income families and among families on TANF and SSI, following past trends.

This issue brief outlines the demographics of the 45,000 low-income households receiving food stamps in Washington, D.C. Additionally, the Urban Institute reviewed the average distance between the clients' households to the closest supermarket, concluding that the most affordable options may no be the most accessible to low-income neighborhoods.

The Boston Medical Center conducted this research to identify if the nutritional needs of low-income families are being met by food stamps. In Boston, low-income families on food stamps are unable to afford the variety of foods required for a healthy, balanced diet.

This paper considers four programs--Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), food stamps, child care subsidies, and the earned income tax credit (EITC)--that form the core work support system in the United States. It highlights differences in program funding, eligibility, and delivery systems. It describes trends in participation and synthesizes research knowledge about the observed differences in program participation. The paper concludes that these programs do not form an effective system. Each program operates under different rules that many low-income working families find daunting. A few recent state innovations offer potential for improving the system.

Low-income families have a variety of income supports available to help encourage stable employment and increase self sufficiency, including TANF, SCHIP, Medicaid, food stamps, and childcare subsidies. This article reviews a streamlined strategy to help families access necessary income supports. By integrating service delivery through call centers and the Internet, States can implement a comprehensive approach to better serve families.

This research from MDRC reviews caseload dynamics for food stamps in Cuyahoga County, OH; Los Angeles, CA; Miami-Dade County, FL; and Philadelphia, PA. The data reviewed caseload data from 1993 to 2001, and found that across all sites, the food stamp caseload declined. Additionally, it was found that most recipients receive food stamps for at least seven months.