Use of the Food Stamp Program (7.1)
Clients were asked a series of questions relating to the Food Stamp Program. Table 7.1.1 summarizes the findings.
Table 7.1.1
USE OF FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
> See Also, Use of the Food Stamp Program by Number (Table 7.1.1N)
Participation in Food Stamp Program |
Pantry Client Households |
Kitchen Client Households |
Shelter Client Households |
All Client Households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Client or anyone in the household had applied for food stamps |
67.1% |
70.2% |
71.4% |
67.9% |
Client or anyone in the household currently receiving food stamps |
35.9% |
35.0% |
31.1% |
35.4% |
Client or anyone in the household currently not receiving but received food stamps during the previous 12 months |
7.3% |
11.2% |
13.1% |
8.3% |
Client or anyone in the household had applied for but had not received food stamps during the previous 12 months |
22.5% |
22.6% |
25.1% |
22.7% |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) |
37,986 |
10,667 |
4,225 |
52,878 |
Number of weeks clients or their households have currently been receiving food stamps (for those who are receiving) |
|
|
|
|
Less than 2 weeks |
1.3% |
3.0% |
5.1% |
1.8% |
2-4 weeks |
5.1% |
6.6% |
12.4% |
5.8% |
5-12 weeks |
4.9% |
7.2% |
9.5% |
5.6% |
13-51 weeks |
19.9% |
25.8% |
36.9% |
22.0% |
1-2 years (52-103 weeks) |
15.5% |
17.5% |
14.5% |
15.8% |
2-4 years (104-207 weeks) |
21.2% |
17.9% |
11.1% |
20.0% |
4 years or more |
32.1% |
21.9% |
10.5% |
29.0% |
TOTAL |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of weeks clients or their households have currently been receiving food stamps |
203.2 |
157.4 |
69.1 |
187.2 |
Median number of weeks clients or their households have currently been receiving food stamps |
104 |
52 |
26 |
78 |
|
|
|
|
|
Number of weeks during which food stamps usually last |
|
|
|
|
1 week or less |
25.8% |
20.1% |
17.4% |
24.4% |
2 weeks |
30.3% |
28.9% |
26.2% |
29.8% |
3 weeks |
26.9% |
30.0% |
29.8% |
27.5% |
4 weeks |
15.8% |
19.0% |
23.5% |
16.8% |
More than 4 weeks |
1.2% |
2.0% |
3.2% |
1.4% |
TOTAL |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
100.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
Average number of weeks during the month over which food stamps usually last |
2.4 |
2.6 |
2.8 |
2.5 |
Median number of weeks during the month over which food stamps usually last |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) – Clients who are currently receiving food stamps |
14,028 |
3,557 |
1,598 |
19,183 |
Source:
This table was constructed based on usable responses to questions 32, 33, 34, 36, and 37 of the client survey.
Notes:
The percentages presented in this table are based only on
usable responses, excluding missing, don’t know, and refusal responses.
All usable responses were weighted as described in Chapter 3 and in the Technical Appendix
volume to represent all emergency food clients of the A2H National Network. The sample sizes (N) also include missing data.
The second, third, and fourth rows of the first panel do not add up exactly to the first row due to varying item nonresponses to the question involved.
For length of receipt of food stamps, missing, don’t know, and refusal responses combined are 8.0% for pantry clients, 6.6% for kitchen clients, 4.6% for shelter clients, and 7.6% for all clients.
For period of time food stamps lasted, missing, don’t know, and refusal
responses combined are 3.1% for pantry clients, 4.8% for kitchen clients, 6.6%
for shelter clients, and 3.6% for all clients.
Overall, 67.9% of the clients have applied for and 35.4% are currently receiving food stamps. More information includes:
- 49.1% of the clients who are receiving food stamps have been receiving them for more than two years.
- For 81.8% of the clients who are receiving food stamps, the stamps last for three weeks or less.
- On average, food stamps last for 2.5 weeks.