In reversal, Florida to apply for $820 million in food aid
Source: Tampa Bay Times
A spokesperson used the announcement to take a shot at Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, who has criticized DeSantis for not accepting the money.
TALLAHASSEE — In a reversal, Florida announced this week it would tap into $820 million in federal food aid money for children in low-income households.
After weeks of saying the money wasn’t needed, Florida’s Department of Children and Families said Tuesday that it is applying for the no-strings-attached funding after all. That means parents of up to 2.1 million children could receive $375 to pay for food for each child over the summer.
The shift came after months of urging from advocacy groups and food banks, who noted that children are hungrier in the summer. A U.S. Census Bureau survey of Florida households from June and July found that 14 percent of adults reported that their kids were not eating enough because the household could not afford food.
Florida was the only state not applying for the pandemic relief program, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Read more: https://www.tampabay.com/news/florida-politics/2021/09/21/in-reversal-florida-to-apply-for-820-million-in-food-aid/
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