NW Iowa News

Osceola County saw a 5.1 percent decrease in the number of residents who participated in Iowa's Food Assistance Program from 2020 to 2021, according to a Osceola Guide analysis of data from the state's Department of Human Services.

In 2021, 376 recipients (185 households) in Osceola County participated in the Program compared to 396 recipients (186 households) in 2020.

Overall, $712,538 in food assistance payments were allocated to Osceola County recipients in 2021.

In 2020, $478,897 was allocated for Osceola 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 Osceola County 2012-2021

Year	Number of recipients
2012	427
2013	472
2014	485
2015	480
2016	461
2017	429
2018	430
2019	396
2020	376
2021	357