Food Security and Relief Programs

By Gueorgui Tochev , Senior Budget Analyst | 4 years ago
Agriculture Analyst: Gueorgui Tochev, Senior Budget Analyst

State Food Purchase Program (SFPP) 

• State program that provides cash grants to counties for the purchase and distribution of food to low income individuals. It is intended to supplement the efforts of food pantries, soup kitchens, food banks, feeding programs, shelters for the homeless, and similar organizations to reduce hunger. 
• Grants are allocated to county commissioners for distribution, allowing local officials to meet local needs 
• Eligible residents include those in households currently receiving: 
  • Unemployment Compensation 
  • SNAP 
  • Medical Assistance 
  • Households with income at or below 150 percent of federal poverty level 
• FY 2018/19 County Allocation data included in Appendix A   1  -   2  -  3 

Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS) 

• State program that provides a mechanism for the agricultural industry to donate food products, produced in PA, while being reimbursed for the costs involved in harvesting, processing, packaging, and transporting these goods. Furthermore, it helps support Pennsylvania’s agricultural industry, while supporting citizens at risk of hunger. 
• Enacted by Act 113 of 2010 
• FY 2018/19 product and household distribution data included in Appendix B 

Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) 

• Federal program associated with the Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) 
• Eligible WIC participants receive FMNP coupons in addition to their WIC benefits. Coupons can be used to buy eligible foods from farmers, farmers’ markets or roadside stands that are state approved by the Departments of Agriculture and Human Services 
• Redemption of eligible items includes: fresh, nutritious, unprepared, locally grown fruits, vegetables, and herbs  
• Search for FMNP participating locations here   
• Redemption data for 2019, included in Appendix C  

Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) 

• Provides low-income seniors with the same benefits as Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) 
• Search for SFMNP participating locations here 
• Redemption data for 2019, included in Appendix D 

Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) 

• Federal program that helps supplement the diets of low-income Americans, including elderly people, by providing them with emergency food assistance at no cost. Through the program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture purchases a variety of nutritious, high-quality USDA Foods, and makes them available to States for distribution. 
• The amount of food each state receives (from the total amount provided) is based on the number of unemployed persons and the number of people with incomes below poverty level in a state.  Pennsylvania, through the Department of Agriculture, provides the food to local agencies. 
• Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture contracts with all 67 counties, thus counties are required to submit quarterly reports detailing the distribution of TEFAP products. Most counties designate a lead agency, such as a food bank or community action agency, to administer the program. The designated lead agencies in turn distribute the food to local organizations, such as soup kitchens and food pantries, that directly serve the community. 
• Response to COVID-19 pandemic: 
• Families First Coronavirus Relief Act provided $15.5 million for Pennsylvania 
  • $3.8 million for Admin Costs 
  • $11.7 million for Commodities 
• CARES Act provided $16.8 million for Pennsylvania 
  • $4.2 million for Admin Costs 
  • $12.6 million for Commodities 
• Program state allocation data included in Appendix E 

Dairy Assistance Program 

• Newly created state program in response to COVID-19 pandemic 
• Provides funding to dairy farmers who have experienced a loss during the Governor’s Disaster Declaration, as a result of the need to discard excess milk 
• Farmer assistance is based on a calculation of the amount of discarded excess milk, beginning with a $1,500 minimum assistance amount 

Fresh Food Financing Initiative (FFFI) 

• Statewide public-private financing program  
• Program invests in new and expanding grocery facilities throughout the Commonwealth 
• Grants to eligible facilities are utilized to increase access to nutritional and affordable food options 
• Program funding is meant to facilitate economic opportunities for underserved communities in urban, rural, and suburban areas 
• As part of the Fresh Food Financing Initiative, the program is expanded to provide assistance to food retailers, who have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic 
• Program guidelines and eligibility can be found here 

Food Security and Relief Budgetary Perspective