Government assistance programs — housing, food, healthcare, and more. 87 programs available.
Showing 15 programs
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides federal reimbursements to licensed child care centers, family day care homes, after-school programs, and adult day care centers for serving nutritious meals and snacks to eligible participants. Children up to age 12 in day care and adults 60 and older in adult day programs benefit, with income-based eligibility determining reimbursement rates for participating facilities. The program helps over 4 million children and nearly 130,000 adults receive better nutrition each day.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) improves the health of low-income seniors aged 60 and older by supplementing their diets with monthly packages of nutritious USDA-purchased foods such as canned fruits and vegetables, cheese, pasta, peanut butter, canned juice, and dry milk or cereal. The program operates through approximately 35 states and several Indian Tribal Organizations, distributing food through local agencies, food banks, and senior centers. Waiting lists exist in many areas due to high demand.
Fair Food Network (USDA-supported)
Double Up Food Bucks is a nutrition incentive program that matches SNAP dollars spent on fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and, in some states, grocery stores and co-ops — effectively doubling the purchasing power of SNAP recipients for fresh, locally grown produce. Participants earn matching tokens or digital credits on a dollar-for-dollar basis, with daily or seasonal limits varying by location. The program is funded through USDA Gus Schumacher Nutrition Incentive Program (GusNIP) grants and operates in over 25 states.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides monthly packages of USDA-purchased nutritious foods to income-eligible Native American households living on or near federally recognized Indian reservations and in Oklahoma. The program offers an alternative to SNAP and is distributed by Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) or state agencies, with packages tailored to reflect cultural food preferences. FDPIR serves approximately 90,000 people per month at over 100 distribution sites.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) provides free fresh and dried fruits and vegetables to elementary school students outside of regular school meal service at selected high-poverty schools, helping children build healthier eating habits and expand their knowledge of diverse produce. Schools with the highest percentages of students enrolled in free and reduced-price meal programs are prioritized for selection by state agencies. The program operates in all 50 states and US territories.
Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Meals on Wheels, funded through the Older Americans Act and delivered by a national network of local programs, provides home-delivered nutritious meals to seniors who are unable to shop or prepare their own food, along with regular wellness checks and social interaction to reduce isolation. Services typically include hot daily meals, frozen weekend meals, and specialized dietary options for medical needs. The program serves adults 60 and older and often provides additional services such as grocery assistance, transportation, and home safety checks.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides nutritionally balanced, free or reduced-price lunches to children at participating public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions each school day. Children from households at or below 130% of the Federal Poverty Level receive free meals, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price meals at no more than $0.40. The program served approximately 30 million students daily and is administered by state agencies through participating schools.
Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
The Nutrition Services Incentive Program (NSIP) provides performance-based grants to states, territories, and tribal organizations to purchase food for Older Americans Act nutrition programs, including congregate meal sites at senior centers and home-delivered meals for homebound older adults. Funds are allocated based on the number of meals served, rewarding programs that serve more seniors with more resources. NSIP supports approximately 1 million older Americans annually through a network of nutrition service providers.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The School Breakfast Program (SBP) provides federal reimbursements to participating schools and residential child care institutions to offer free or reduced-price nutritious breakfasts to eligible children each school day. Children from low-income households receive free breakfast based on the same income thresholds used by the National School Lunch Program. Research consistently shows that students who eat breakfast perform better academically and have better attendance and health outcomes.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program (SFMNP) provides low-income seniors with coupons or electronic benefits redeemable for fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, herbs, and honey at participating farmers markets, roadside stands, and community supported agriculture (CSA) programs. Annual benefits typically range from $20 to $50 per person and support both food access for seniors and revenue for local farmers. The program runs seasonally from roughly May through November in most states.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides monthly electronic benefits to low-income households to purchase food at authorized grocery stores and markets. Benefit amounts are based on household size, net income, and allowable deductions including housing, childcare, and dependent care. Most households must have gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level to qualify.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Special Milk Program (SMP) provides reimbursements to schools, child care institutions, and eligible summer camps to offer free or reduced-price milk to children who do not have access to other federal school meal programs during their school day. It primarily serves children in half-day kindergarten and pre-K programs and split-session schools where some students miss school lunch. Schools and institutions that participate in the National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program may use SMP only for students not covered under those programs.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) provides free meals to children 18 and under at approved community sites during summer months when school is not in session, addressing the nutrition gap low-income children face when school meal programs are unavailable. Any child 18 or younger can eat free at open sites — no income verification or paperwork is required at the point of service. Sites are located at schools, community centers, parks, libraries, and other accessible locations in areas where at least 50% of children qualify for free or reduced-price school meals.
U.S. Department of Agriculture
TEFAP makes USDA-purchased commodity foods available at no cost to low-income Americans through a nationwide network of food banks, food pantries, and soup kitchens. States receive allocations of foods based on their low-income and unemployed populations and distribute them through local food bank networks, where recipients can collect food packages or receive prepared meals. The program distributes billions of pounds of food annually including canned goods, dairy, meat, poultry, and fresh produce.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service
WIC provides monthly food benefits, nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals to low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women and children under five at nutritional risk. Participants receive electronic benefits redeemable for specific healthy foods at authorized retailers. Eligibility requires income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.