Sponsor of the Houston Feed the Most Vulnerable Project
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Connecting Homeless Advocates, Shelters, and Individuals with Food and Nutrition Resources
Toolkit for Advocates
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Federal Food Programs
The federal government has programs to feed individuals and families experiencing homelessness, but many times this aid does not reach its intended recipients because of a lack of information. This resource guide is written for homeless and hunger advocates who wish to educate homeless shelters and families on their options, helping them to access the food resources they need.
Included in this guide are a number of new and existing rules that facilitate the participation of homeless individuals and families in the federal food programs as well as brochures, written in a low-literacy format, explaining the options for those facing homelessness. These materials are designed to be resources for advocates, so making copies and distributing widely is encouraged.
Resource Guide, including information on school meals, nutrition funds for shelters, food stamps, and the WIC program.
Brochures:
Local Resources
Funding to Feed Children in Shelters
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a federal entitlement, is an important resource for feeding children and youth in homeless, runaway, and domestic violence shelters and some transitional housing in Houston. Through this program, shelters can receive up to $6.66 a day for every child served breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack. Meals served to children up to 18 years of age are eligible for this funding. Shelters in Houston can use this program to bring much-needed benefits to children and youth.
This Tool Kit, a product of the Feed the Most Vulnerable project, provides information and tools for homeless advocates, faith-based organizations, and anti-hunger groups to maximize the use of the homeless shelter option in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This Tool Kit includes program information and links, outreach and training materials, research and background information, and model program information. These materials are designed to be resources for advocates, so making copies and distributing widely is encouraged.
Advocates interested in finding out more about CACFP should contact Gayle Butler at the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, Special Nutrition Programs at (713) 696-3635, www.snptexas.org or FRAC at (202) 986-2200 extension 3025 or ghenchy@frac.org.
Outreach Tool Kit Contents
Program Basics
Outreach Overview
Model Programs
PowerPoint and Overhead Presentation
Menu and Meal Planning
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Program Guidance
- Memo ensuring minimum paperwork for homeless shelters
- Regulations extending eligibility to 18 years of age and allowing unaccompanied youth to participate
- Guidance describing the change made in raising the CACFP age limit to 18
- Guidance listing common questions and answers about shelters' participation in CACFP
- Guidance clarifying that shelters participating can also use government commodities
- Guidance describing the basic guidelines for participation
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Houston Feed the Most Vulnerable Project