Should the government shutdown extend beyond October, advocates and others fear millions of poor women could stop receiving federal support to feed their children.
The Women, Infants and Children program (WIC) provides healthy-food vouchers, nutrition education and breastfeeding support in states across the country. The WIC receives $7 billion in federal funding to aide 9 million poor women and their children, but according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the shutdown could hinder these services.
The Boston area is home to 12 main WIC sites.
Dorchester alone has three WIC locations; two others are located in the city; and Brighton, East Boston, Jamaica Plain, Revere, Roxbury, Somerville, and South Boston each have a WIC office.
The state’s Department of Public health administers the program designed to serve pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding women, infants and children under the age of five. Eligibility for WIC services is income, nutrition risk, and place of residence-dependant.
State applicants are automatically income-eligible if they receive federal assistance through programs such as Medicaid, or Food Stamps.
If not, applicants income must fall at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty line.
| Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $4,020 for each additional person. | |
| 1 | $11,490 |
| 2 | 15,510 |
| 3 | 19,530 |
| 4 | 23,550 |
| 5 | 27,570 |
| 6 | 31,590 |
| 7 | 35,610 |
| 8 | 39,630 |
In Massachusetts, for example, a single mom with a child would be eligible if her income was $28,693.5, or less.
A 2011 project report from Boston Indicators found that approximated 160,000 Bostonians, including 50,000 children had incomes up to 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Standard.
Image from WIC Facebook
