Section Overview
This section defines food insecurity, provides information about federal nutrition programs, as well as a list of local resources in Broward and Miami-Dade county in Florida.
What is Food Insecurity?
Food insecurity is defined by the US Department of Agriculture as lack of consistent access to enough food for an active and health life. When people are food insecure they do not have enough financial resources for food in their household. According to No Kid Hungry, as many as 1 in 6 kids in the United States may face hunger in 2021.
Federal Food Programs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides benefits to food insecure families so they can purchase healthy food items. SNAP benefit eligibility is based on income and resource limits which are updated on an annual basis. Families eligible for SNAP benefits must apply through their state.
Click here to learn more about SNAP eligibility and benefits
Woman Infants and Children Program
The Woman Infants and Children Program (WIC) gives federal funding to the states to provide supplemental foods, nutrition education and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women, infants and children under the age of five who are at nutritional risk. Applicants for the WIC program must meet the categorical, residential, income and nutrition risk requirements.
Click here to go to the WIC prescreening tool to see if you might be eligible for benefits
National School Meal Programs
There are several school meal programs that operate in public and nonprofit private schools and residential chid care institutions.
National School Lunch Program (NSLP) – provides low cost or no cost lunches to children in school each day. All NSLP lunches must meet Federal requirements for nutritional standards. Children can be considered categorically eligible for free meals if their family participates in certain Federal Assistance Programs or if they are enrolled in a federally-funded Head State Program. Children from families whose income is at or below 130% of the Federal poverty level are eligible for free meals. Children from families whose income is between 130-185% of the Federal poverty level are eligible for reduced price lunch. Your child’s school will send the school meal applications home at the beginning of each school year. However, you can apply at anytime during the school year by submitting an application to your school or to the school district. Contact your school for an application anytime during the school year.
Click here for the National School Meal Programs income eligibility requirements
Local Food Resources
