02 Sep SNAP Cuts Hit Close to Home
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) helps people with limited incomes buy groceries. It is one of our country’s most important protections against hunger, and in the Gorge, it also supports the farmers and producers who feed our communities.
Right now, federal changes are making SNAP harder to access.
What is changing with SNAP?
- Stricter work and reporting requirements. More people must document at least 80 hours per month of work, volunteering, or job training to maintain benefits, including older adults, parents and caregivers. More than 36,500 Oregonians have already lost SNAP because they did not meet these requirements.
- Fewer people qualify, and many will receive less. Across Oregon, 126,000 fewer people were receiving SNAP in June compared with the same time last year. Changes to how household expenses are calculated could also reduce benefits for some families.
- Immigrant families face new restrictions and uncertainty. Many lawfully present immigrants who previously qualified, including refugees and asylees, are no longer eligible. Changes to “public charge” policy may also discourage mixed-status families from seeking assistance even when some household members remain eligible.
- States will shoulder significantly more of the cost. Federal changes are shifting SNAP benefits and administrative costs to states. The Food Research & Action Center estimates more than $320 million in additional costs for Oregon and $160 million for Washington.
SNAP supports families and farmers
Each year, more than $160,000 in SNAP and SNAP Match is spent at our local farmers markets, helping families afford fresh, local food while supporting the farmers and producers who grow it.
Now, we are seeing those dollars decline. Some families arrive at the market expecting to use their SNAP benefits, only to discover they have been reduced or canceled. These are difficult conversations with loyal market customers who are already struggling to make ends meet.
When SNAP declines, farmers and grocery stores lose customers, food pantries see greater demand, and our entire regional food system feels the strain.
Who uses SNAP?
- 41 million people nationwide rely on SNAP: 12.3% of U.S. residents.
- 2 in 5 are children.
- Half of all households include elderly or disabled individuals.
- 1 million veterans depend on SNAP.
How you can help
When our government pulls the plug on critical safety nets, the strength of our local food system depends on what we do here at home and how we show up for one another.
Donate to Gorge Grown. Your support helps us respond to hunger in creative, community-driven ways, putting more fresh food on family tables and more dollars into local farmers’ pockets.
Share what you grow. Have extra tomatoes, zucchini, greens, or fruit in your garden? Donate fresh produce to your local food bank or pantry.
Volunteer with our gleaning program. Help us harvest surplus fruit and produce from local farms, orchards, and backyards so good food reaches neighbors who need it.
Speak up. Submit a public comment on the proposed shift in SNAP administrative costs to states. Tell federal decision-makers why strong food assistance matters to rural communities like ours.
Learn More
SNAP Cuts, Food Costs and Rising Hunger | OPB
Learn how SNAP changes and rising food costs are affecting families across Oregon.
SNAP Food Aid Enrollment Plummets as Changes Kick In | Associated Press
A national look at declining SNAP enrollment, expanded work requirements, and the experiences of families navigating the new rules.
A Place at the Table | Documentary
This documentary follows families experiencing food insecurity and offers a personal look at the people behind the statistics and the difficult choices families make to put food on the table.