The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides USDA Foods to eligible households living on Indian reservations and in other approved designated areas. This supplemental food program is a vital resource for many households, providing monthly food packages and nutrition education to reduce food insecurity and support a nutritious diet. In the Joint Explanatory Statement of the Further Consolidated Appropriations Bill of 2020, the US Congress required USDA to conduct a study on the challenges that FDPIR faces in reaching underserved populations, particularly the homebound and elderly. This report presents a comprehensive analysis and summary of responses to a survey administered to program operators of FDPIR administering agencies. The report details how FDPIR serves the homebound and elderly, challenges in reaching these populations, and recommendations for improving FDPIR’s accessibility for the homebound and elderly.
Key Findings
Strategies for Distributing Food to Homebound and Elderly Individuals
- Approximately one-third of participants served were homebound or elderly.
- Home delivery was the primary distribution method for homebound and elderly participants, with tailgate (i.e., mobile distribution) site pickup and store model pickup also being utilized, albeit with less frequency.
- Phone ordering was the prevalent method for selecting food benefits among home delivery recipients.
Challenges in Reaching Homebound and Elderly Individuals
About 40% of survey respondents identified challenges in reaching homebound and elderly individuals, including:
- Transportation issues for home delivery.
- Operational challenges limiting agencies’ ability to delivery of foods.
- Difficulty reaching eligible non-participants due to policy-related eligibility requirements.
- Lack of awareness about FDPIR.
Recommendations for Improvement
The survey asked FDPIR program operators for their recommendations for improving the program. Three main areas of improvement emerged from their responses which include:
- Changes to the FDPIR food options, including healthier options and easy to open food packaging for physically challenged groups.
- Additional financial resources for home delivery, staffing, and increasing financial benefits for participants to cover non-food essential items and services.
- Changes to FDPIR program policies and practices, particularly regarding eligibility criteria, simplifying certification processes, and expanding service areas.