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The Child and Adult Care Food Program:
An Important New Resource for Feeding Children and Youth in
Homeless Shelters

Now homeless shelters, including domestic violence shelters and some transitional housing providers, can use the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a federal entitlement program, as a resource for feeding homeless children and youth. Expanding this resource to reach shelters is critical at a time when an ever increasing number of families and youth are seeking refuge in homeless shelters.

Through the Child and Adult Care Food Program, shelters will be able to receive reimbursement for food and meal preparation costs and ongoing training in the nutritional needs of children. Shelters participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program will be reimbursed for meals and snacks served to children age 18 and under residing in the shelter.

Shelters will operate under special rules that take into account the difficult circumstances homeless families and youth face. Shelter providers will not have to ask families to prove their income or fill out any applications for children served through the food program. Instead, the shelter will receive a full reimbursement for each child or youth fed who is eligible under the age criteria.

This new opportunity will bring significant resources into often limited shelter budgets. Participating shelters will receive $1.23 for each breakfast, $2.24 for each lunch or supper and 61¢ for each snack. Shelters will also receive commodity foods or a "cash-in-lieu" of commodities reimbursement of 17¢ for each lunch and supper. For each child served, shelters can receive reimbursement for up to three meals or two meals and one snack each day.

To apply for the Child and Adult Care Food Program, contact your state Child and Adult Care Food Program agency, usually located in the Department of Education. For a list of state agencies or more information on this important program, visit the Food Research and Action Center's website at www.frac.org.