SNAP Benefits Cut: Impact on NYC Families and Hunger

This past year has been especially difficult for New Yorkers, with New York State experiencing a 6.2 percent decline in SNAP enrollment. Recent declines in SNAP enrollment are not necessarily a sign of reduced need: food costs remain high, rents continue to rise, and too many households are struggling to make ends meet. Instead, changing federal policies may prevent eligible families from accessing critical benefits. SNAP is one of the nation’s most effective anti-hunger programs. When access to these benefits becomes more difficult, the impact extends beyond individual households, placing added pressure on emergency food providers already responding to growing need. At WSCAH, we know healthy food should be accessible to everyone, and we will continue advocating for policies that protect and strengthen food access for all New Yorkers. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eYfqR-9b

New food insecurity numbers are about to be released, but a sneak peak shows that in Louisiana the numbers have gotten worse. Meanwhile, there has been a 23% decline in SNAP recipients in the state from January 2025 to April 2026. This trend will worsen as eligibility requirements will tighten in the next 18 months. For every 1 meal a food bank provides, SNAP provides 9. USDA support for food banks is also down. In FY24, Second Harvest received 18 million pounds for food from the USDA's Temporary Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP). In the fiscal year that just started this month, we anticipate we will receive 7 million pounds of food from TEFAP. Food banks are doing everything to step up, and we not only need philanthropic support, we also need support from state, parish, and municipal governments. Or our neighbors will continue to face the anxiety of not knowing where their next meal is coming from.

"Before the new law, #SNAP helped feed 41.7 million low-income Americans per month, 62 percent of which were families with children. The program has been linked to improving child health, educational outcomes, and reducing child poverty. SNAP also benefits local economies, with each dollar in federally funded SNAP benefits generating $1.79 in economic activity. Yet the “Big Beautiful Bill” cuts nearly $190 billion from SNAP over 10 years. And it adds paperwork barriers like work requirements. Most SNAP recipients who can work already do — these requirements just make it easier for eligible people to lose benefits even when they still need help. The effects of losing SNAP are devastating." https://lnkd.in/djgayG3s

Across Southeast Missouri, families are working hard to provide for the people they love. For Stephanie, that means doing whatever it takes to care for her children while navigating the challenges that can come with changing work opportunities and a household budget that only stretches so far. In the small community she calls home, Stephanie has worked in hotels, retail stores, gas stations and construction. When employment is uncertain, SNAP helps provide stability and ensures her family can continue accessing nutritious food while she works toward a stronger future. “It’s not about me, it’s about my children,” Stephanie said. “They need three meals a day and good nutrition.” Stephanie’s story reflects the experiences of many families across our region. Unexpected expenses, changes in income or shifts in employment can create challenges ... even for families who are working hard and carefully planning their budgets. SNAP helps bridge those difficult seasons by providing stability when families need it most, allowing parents to focus on what matters most: caring for their families and moving forward. Learn more about how SNAP supports families: https://lnkd.in/gxU4fQ5F

Approximately 71,000 Lake County residents rely on SNAP benefits to help put food on the table. That's roughly the equivalent of the populations of Mundelein, Libertyville, and Grayslake combined. It’s a big number that’s been on my mind. As new federal SNAP eligibility requirements take effect, many families who are already struggling to make ends meet may lose access to this critical support. Our health and well-being are deeply influenced by the conditions in which we live, work, learn, and raise our families. These are known as social drivers of health, and cover things like housing stability, income, education, transportation, and access to nutritious food. When a parent is worried about how they'll feed their children, accessing mental healthcare often takes a back seat. When families are forced to choose between groceries or rent, stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma can intensify. The United Way's ALICE report shines a light on how changes to federal SNAP benefits could affect our neighbors, coworkers, friends, and family members who are struggling. If we want to improve mental health outcomes in our communities, we must address the social conditions that shape health and well-being. That means supporting food assistance programs, investing in affordable housing, strengthening community resources, and ensuring access to mental health care for all. #MentalHealth #CommunityHealth #SNAP #HealthEquity #NonprofitLeadership #BehavioralHealth #CommunityMentalHealth #YFC

Across the country, changes to SNAP eligibility requirements are affecting many people's access to food assistance. At the Village, our Marj & Mak Vocational Center, Behavioral Health Services, and case managers are supporting clients through changes to SNAP requirements—helping eligible individuals maintain their benefits and assisting others in meeting new requirements so they can continue accessing this vital resource. Read or listen to this NPR story on the decline in SNAP participation over the last year: https://lnkd.in/eQPAaka5

One statistic from the latest USDA SNAP participant report made me pause: Nearly 79% of SNAP households include a child, an older adult, or a person with a disability. That single statistic challenges many of the assumptions people have about who relies on nutrition assistance. The report also found that:
• Many SNAP households are working or living on fixed incomes.
• Nearly 95% of participants are U.S. citizens.
• The average SNAP household receives about $341 per month, roughly $11 per day to help put food on the table.
• Even with SNAP, many families struggle to make benefits last through the end of the month. As someone passionate about basic needs, resource navigation, and student success, I believe data like this matters because it helps us move beyond stereotypes and toward understanding. Whether we’re working with college students, families, older adults, or people with disabilities, we rarely see just one challenge. Food insecurity often intersects with housing instability, transportation barriers, caregiving responsibilities, health concerns, and financial stress. When we understand who these programs actually serve, we can build systems that are more compassionate, accessible, and effective. For me, this isn’t just about SNAP. It’s about recognizing that behind every data point is a person working to meet basic needs while pursuing stability, health, education, or opportunity. Who we think needs help? and who actually does, are not always the same. When we let evidence shape our conversations, we make room for greater empathy, stronger policies, and better support systems for the people who need them most. #BasicNeeds #ResourceNavigation #FoodSecurity #StudentSuccess #HigherEducation #SocialWork #CommunitySupport #SNAP #PublicPolicy

Arizona is facing a SNAP crisis, and rural communities are feeling the impact. Since the reduction in SNAP benefits last November, many Arizona families have struggled to keep food on the table. More recently, changes to income eligibility during the implementation of federal policy updates created confusion for applicants. Arizona's gross monthly income limit for a family of four was briefly lowered before being restored to the current federal standard of $4,957 per month, leaving many households uncertain about their eligibility and, in some cases, without benefits. For many families, the challenge didn't end there. Applicants have reported waiting months to complete required interviews or receive eligibility decisions because they have been unable to connect with the Arizona Department of Economic Security. In rural communities, where resources are already limited, these delays have an even greater impact. At the same time, food banks and community pantries are facing reduced funding, fewer volunteers, and increased demand. They continue to do incredible work, but they cannot replace a strong and accessible SNAP program. Through my work with partners across Pinal County as part of our Food Initiative Coalition, we see and hear these stories every day. Food insecurity isn't just about hunger. It affects health, housing, childcare, education, employment, and economic stability. It touches every part of a family's life. Behind every delayed application is a student, a senior, a veteran, a person with a disability, or a working family doing everything they can to get by. This is a call for awareness and advocacy. Food security is the foundation of healthy communities. We need responsive systems, strong community partnerships, and policies that ensure eligible families can access the support they need, when they need it. Together, we can build a stronger, more food-secure Arizona. #FoodSecurity #SNAP #Arizona #PinalCounty #RuralCommunities #CommunityImpact #Advocacy #PublicHealth #HungerRelief

SNAP enrollment fell more than 10 percent in eight months. It is the steepest drop in almost 30 years, and unemployment did not move. Consider what those two facts mean together. More than 4 million people have come off SNAP nationally since the July 2025 law took effect. Over the same period, the unemployment rate held flat at roughly 4 percent. If fewer people were enrolled because fewer people needed help, the labor market would show it. It does not. That is the tell. When a caseload drops while the economy holds steady, the reduction is administrative, not economic. People did not stop being poor. They were pushed off the rolls through new work requirements, shorter recertification windows, and more frequent reporting. Arizona is down 50 percent. Half of its caseload, gone in months, in a state where the labor market barely shifted. This is the distinction I keep returning to. Food insecurity is a policy and infrastructure failure, not a poverty narrative. A hungry family that becomes harder to count is still a hungry family. The chart falling is not a measure of who got fed. It is a measure of who got processed out. When the number goes down but the need does not, what exactly are we counting as progress? Source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP Tracker (2026). https://lnkd.in/dn_eni66 #FoodInsecurity #FoodPolicy #FoodSystems

SNAP helps many New Yorkers put food on the table, but nearly 43,500 residents are at risk of losing their benefits as new federal work requirements take effect. Young adults ages 18–30 make up the largest share of those at risk. At a time when food costs continue to increase, food assistance should be more accessible—not harder to reach when people need it most. Read more: bit.ly/4ei0Rsg