# SNAP & WIC Data Collection

Comprehensive data and documentation on federal nutrition assistance programs.

## Quick Start

1. **Overview** → Read `overview-statistics.md` for high-level statistics and context
2. **Database** → Use `snap-wic-data.db` (SQLite) for analysis - see `DATABASE-SCHEMA.md`
3. **Raw Data** → See `DATA-README.md` for info on all 53 Excel/PDF source files

## What's Included

### 📊 Database (snap-wic-data.db)
Ready-to-query SQLite database with 7 tables covering 1969-2025:

- **snap_annual_national** - 60 years of national SNAP data (1969-2024)
- **wic_annual_national** - 55 years of national WIC data (1974-2024)
- **snap_monthly_state_fy2024** - State-level SNAP for FY2024
- **snap_state_latest** - Most recent state snapshot (May 2025)
- **snap_spending_history** - Inflation-adjusted spending trends
- Plus 2 more tables (see DATABASE-SCHEMA.md)

### 📁 Raw Data Files (53 files, 20 MB)
- **37 Excel files** with historical SNAP state data (FY1969-FY2025)
- **7 Excel files** with WIC data and ERS analysis
- **9 PDF research reports** with detailed methodologies and findings

### 📝 Documentation
- `overview-statistics.md` - Statistical summary of both programs
- `DATABASE-SCHEMA.md` - Complete database documentation with sample queries
- `DATA-README.md` - Detailed guide to all raw source files

## Key Statistics at a Glance

### SNAP (Food Stamps)
- **Current:** 41.7 million participants (FY2024), 12.3% of US population
- **Historical peak:** 47.6 million (2013)
- **Lifetime usage:** ~51% of Americans will use SNAP at some point age 20-65

### WIC
- **Current:** 6.7 million participants (2024)
- **Historical peak:** 9.2 million (2010)
- **Coverage rate:** Only ~54% of eligible people participate

### Federal Poverty Level (2025)
- 1 person: $15,650/year
- 2 people: $21,150/year
- 4 people: $32,150/year

## Example Queries

### SNAP participation trend
```sql
SELECT fiscal_year, average_participation_thousands
FROM snap_annual_national
WHERE fiscal_year >= '2010'
ORDER BY fiscal_year;
```

### WIC vs SNAP comparison
```sql
SELECT s.fiscal_year,
       CAST(s.average_participation_thousands AS REAL) / 1000 as snap_millions,
       CAST(w.total_participation_thousands AS REAL) / 1000 as wic_millions
FROM snap_annual_national s
JOIN wic_annual_national w ON s.fiscal_year = w.fiscal_year
WHERE s.fiscal_year >= '2000';
```

### States with biggest recent changes
```sql
SELECT state_territory, 
       percent_change_may_2025_vs_may_2024
FROM snap_state_latest
WHERE state_territory NOT LIKE '%Total%'
ORDER BY CAST(percent_change_may_2025_vs_may_2024 AS REAL) DESC
LIMIT 10;
```

## Data Sources

All data from official US government sources:
- **USDA Food and Nutrition Service (FNS)** - Administrative data
- **USDA Economic Research Service (ERS)** - Research and analysis
- **Federal Register** - Federal poverty guidelines

Last updated: November 2, 2025

## Files in This Directory

```
food-stamps/
├── README.md (this file)
├── overview-statistics.md (high-level stats summary)
├── DATABASE-SCHEMA.md (database documentation)
├── DATA-README.md (raw files documentation)
├── snap-wic-data.db (SQLite database)
├── *.xlsx (53 Excel data files)
└── *.pdf (9 research reports)
```

## Next Steps

### For Analysis
1. Open `snap-wic-data.db` in any SQLite client or with Python/R
2. See `DATABASE-SCHEMA.md` for table structures and sample queries
3. Consult `overview-statistics.md` for context and interpretation

### For Deep Dives
1. Review PDF research reports for methodologies
2. Process additional Excel sheets not yet in database
3. Extract tables from PDFs for more granular data

### For Updates
1. Check USDA FNS Program Data page: https://www.fns.usda.gov/pd/
2. Download new monthly releases
3. Re-run database build scripts (see DATABASE-SCHEMA.md)