Food Stamps
Date updated: 01/10/2012
Chart Directory:
- Food Stamp Applications Received in Larimer County, 2006-2011
- Food Stamps Cases in Larimer County, 2006-2011
- Food Stamp Benefit in the United States, Colorado & Larimer County, 2011
- Expedited Issuances of Food Stamps in Larimer County, 2006-2011
- Food Stamp Recipients by Age in Larimer County, 2008-2011
The Food Stamp Program is a nationally available benefit of the United States Department of Agriculture. It is designed to help individuals and families meet a portion of their food costs. Eligibility is based on both income and resource tests that are set by the federal government. Residents who do not qualify for monthly cash assistance (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF) may still be eligible for food stamp benefits.
As of Oct. 1, 2008, the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program is Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The new name reflects the changes made to meet the needs of clients, including a focus on nutrition and an increase in benefit amounts. Colorado's food stamp program is administered by the Department of Human Services and is called Colorado Food Assistance Program.
What this chart shows: Food Stamp Applications Received in Larimer County, 2006-2011
Data Source: Larimer County Dept. of Human Services (data not available online)
What the above data tell us:
The number of food stamp applications in Larimer County increased 67.5% between 2006 and 2011, with the peak occurring in 2009. It is widely assumed the struggling economy and higher than normal unemployment rates are responsible for the increased demand for food stamps.What this chart shows: Number of Households Receiving Food Stamps in Larimer County, 2006-2011
Data Source: Larimer County Dept. of Human Services (data not available online)
What the above data tell us:
The average number of households (defined as a distinct group of people who eat together) receiving food stamps increased 101.5% between 2006 and 2011. Although the number of applications for food stamps decreased 7.9% between 2009 and 2010, the number of households receiving benefits increased 22.3% during the same time period.What this chart shows: Average Monthly Food Stamp Benefit for the United States, Colorado, & Larimer County, 2011
Data Sources:
- Larimer County Dept. of Human Services (data not available online)
- United States Department of Agriculture, SNAP program data
What the above data tell us:
The average monthly benefit in Larimer County was greater than in the United States, but less than in Colorado. Larimer County food stamp recipients also saw the largest one-year decline in monthly benefits (-11.7%) compared to the United States (-2.1%) and Colorado (-2.2%).The criteria for the amount recipients receive in benefits are the same throughout Colorado. Variables determining benefit amounts include household size, income, and housing cost, based on statewide averages. For example, a household of one, with no income, would receive the same monthly food stamp benefits, regardless of whether they lived in Fort Collins, Pueblo or Vail.
The amount of the benefit an applicant receives is determined by: 1) family size [see Family Size, Household Size, & Household Composition], 2) income [see Per Capita Income], and 3) housing costs [see Home Ownership/Affordable Housing].
What this chart shows: Monthly Expedited Food Stamp Applications in Larimer County, 2006-2011
Data Source: Larimer County Dept. of Human Services (data not available online)
What the above data tell us:
'Expedited Issuances' of food stamps are provided to households with limited income and no cash resources when it is expected they will not be able to meet basic shelter expenses of rent/mortgage and utility bills in the next month. This figure is a strong indicator of the number of people who have lost jobs in the prior month. (See the data table for monthly statistics.) Note the significant increase in the last half of 2008, as the effects of the recession were more apparent.In 2010, the number of residents applying for expedited food stamps decreased slightly over 2009. However, the numbers remain double what they were in 2006 and 2007, prior to the recession.
What this chart shows: Food Stamp Recipients by Age in Larimer County, 2008-2011
Data Source: Larimer County Dept. of Human Services (data not available online)
What the above data tell us:
Since 2008, the number of children under the age of 18 receiving food stamps increased 104.5%, compared to an increase of 44.9% for adults between 18 and 59 years of age, and 202.9% for seniors over the age of 60.Additional Information:
Related Information on COMPASS -
- Affordable Rental Costs
- Childcare Assistance Program (CCAP)
- Food Bank for Larimer County
- Home Ownership/Affordable Housing
- Homelessness
- Income by Racial Classification
Other Resources -
- Colorado Department of Human Services Food Assistance Program
- Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute/ The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2011: A Family Needs Budget [pdf] - This report, produced by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, uses the Self-Sufficiency Standard to calculate the income needed by families in each Colorado county to meet basic needs without public or private assistance.
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Food Bank for Larimer County
- Food Research and Action Center is a nonprofit and nonpartisan research and public policy center working to improve public policies to eradicate hunger and under-nutrition in the United States.
- United States Department of Agriculture - Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services section.
Standards or Targets: N/A
Food Stamp Applications - Larimer County
|
Month |
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Jan |
798 |
982 |
1,056 |
1,413 |
1,349 |
1,389 |
1,436 |
|
Feb |
601 |
782 |
731 |
1,153 |
1,066 |
1,099 |
1,237 |
|
Mar |
723 |
681 |
768 |
1,262 |
1,179 |
1,228 |
1,215 |
|
April |
534 |
681 |
823 |
1,333 |
1,206 |
1,120 |
1,158 |
|
May |
657 |
745 |
613 |
1,007 |
1,021 |
1,216 |
|
|
Jun |
858 |
660 |
782 |
1,177 |
1,171 |
1,212 |
|
|
Jul |
757 |
802 |
901 |
1,389 |
1,232 |
1,285 |
|
|
Aug |
903 |
796 |
1,041 |
1,242 |
1,350 |
1,346 |
|
|
Sept |
727 |
689 |
1,103 |
1,275 |
1,201 |
1,272 |
|
|
Oct |
877 |
823 |
1,191 |
1,424 |
1,099 |
1,221 |
|
|
Nov |
780 |
808 |
1,039 |
1,347 |
1,162 |
1,157 |
|
|
Dec |
609 |
689 |
1,270 |
1,435 |
1,217 |
1,239 |
|
|
Total |
8,824 |
9,138 |
11,318 |
15,457 |
14,253 |
14,784 |
|
|
Average |
735 |
762 |
943 |
1,288 |
1,188 |
1,232 |
Food Stamp Cases - Larimer County
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Jan |
5,006 |
4,859 |
4,925 |
6,129 |
8,219 |
9,055 |
10,050 |
|
Feb |
4,782 |
4,948 |
4,958 |
6,251 |
8,302 |
9,154 |
9,934 |
|
Mar |
4,844 |
4,907 |
5,001 |
6,442 |
8,465 |
9,260 |
10,070 |
|
April |
4,853 |
4,953 |
5,194 |
6,664 |
8,571 |
9,388 |
10,112 |
|
May |
4,801 |
4,932 |
5,238 |
6,872 |
8,603 |
9,512 |
|
|
Jun |
4,614 |
4,883 |
5,259 |
7,041 |
8,571 |
9,636 |
|
|
Jul |
4,683 |
4,812 |
5,288 |
7,151 |
8,565 |
9,650 |
|
|
Aug |
4,705 |
4,758 |
5,324 |
No data |
8,655 |
9,731 |
|
|
Sept |
4,552 |
4,373 |
5,334 |
7,233 |
8,644 |
9,774 |
|
|
Oct |
4,686 |
4,626 |
5,629 |
7,608 |
8,643 |
9,904 |
|
|
Nov |
4,839 |
4,706 |
5,747 |
7,824 |
8,878 |
9,920 |
|
|
Dec |
4,740 |
4,728 |
5,993 |
8,091 |
8,990 |
10,063 |
|
|
Total |
57,105 |
57,485 |
63,890 |
77,309 |
103,106 |
115,047 |
|
|
Average |
4,759 |
4,790 |
5,324 |
7,028 |
8,592 |
9,587 |
|
Per Household |
2011 |
|
United States |
$284 |
|
Colorado |
$318 |
|
Larimer County |
$295 |
Expedited Food Stamp Applications - Larimer County
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
|
Jan |
238 |
328 |
290 |
554 |
523 |
558 |
579 |
|
Feb |
183 |
271 |
206 |
464 |
409 |
420 |
490 |
|
Mar |
221 |
213 |
211 |
518 |
434 |
477 |
481 |
|
April |
151 |
212 |
231 |
530 |
465 |
457 |
448 |
|
May |
194 |
249 |
152 |
389 |
389 |
485 |
|
|
Jun |
261 |
202 |
213 |
466 |
436 |
475 |
|
|
Jul |
230 |
260 |
260 |
533 |
456 |
482 |
|
|
Aug |
263 |
242 |
301 |
468 |
500 |
508 |
|
|
Sept |
203 |
189 |
415 |
475 |
437 |
493 |
|
|
Oct |
260 |
218 |
456 |
575 |
394 |
469 |
|
|
Nov |
244 |
227 |
397 |
525 |
434 |
436 |
|
|
Dec |
195 |
182 |
506 |
568 |
487 |
479 |
|
|
Total |
2,643 |
2,793 |
3,638 |
6,065 |
5,364 |
5,739 |
|
|
Average |
220 |
233 |
303 |
505 |
447 |
478 |
Age of Food Stamp Recipients - Larimer County
|
|
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
|
Under 18 years |
5,405 | 5,470 |
9,092 |
10,315 |
11,186 |
|
18-59 years |
4,424 | 6,711 |
7,954 |
9,053 |
9,723 |
|
60+ years |
627 | 519 |
1,003 |
1,416 |
1,572 |
|
Total |
10,456 | 12,700 |
18,049 |
20,784 |
22,481 |