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The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP or food stamps, is one of our nation’s most effective anti-hunger tools. But beginning today, Oregonians face a painful double blow: sweeping federal changes that will cut benefits for hundreds of thousands of residents, and a government shutdown that could halt SNAP payments altogether (editor’s note: A federal court ruling on Friday ordered the Trump administration to release November funds for SNAP recipients, though it’s unclear when funds will be disbursed or whether recipients would receive full or partial benefits). These disruptions will deepen hunger for families across our state and strain the local economies that rely on their spending.
In Oregon, roughly 750,000 people depend on SNAP to put food on the table. State estimates show that about 313,000 of them could see their benefits reduced or eliminated under federal bill H.R. 1. Behind those numbers are people we know, working parents, seniors on fixed incomes and children whose growing bodies need consistent nourishment.
SNAP helps working families make ends meet. In Oregon, 83 percent of households receiving SNAP include at least one working family member. These are our neighbors who are already stretching every dollar to cover rent, childcare and transportation. In Lane County, over 15 percent of residents experience food insecurity, meaning they don’t always know where their next meal will come from. These individuals likely qualify for SNAP, and when benefits are cut, they are forced to make impossible choices between food and other essentials.
The effects go far beyond individual households. SNAP strengthens local economies, too. Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates more than $1.80 in local economic activity, supporting grocers, farmers and small businesses across our communities. When benefits are reduced, the ripple effects touch everyone, from food producers and shop owners to the people they employ.
At Food for Lane County, we see the human impact of food insecurity every day. Our pantries, meal sites and mobile food programs are ready to serve, but emergency food systems were never designed to replace a national safety net. For every meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides nine. That’s why cuts to SNAP are so concerning. Right now, Food for Lane County is doing everything we can to keep food flowing to those who need it. But the need is growing faster than any one organization can meet.
What gives us hope is this community. Every volunteer, donor, advocate and partner who steps up makes a difference. You remind us that Lane County is a remarkable place to live because of the shared belief that everyone deserves access to nutritious food.
As we face the months ahead, we’ll continue to do what food banks do best, bringing people together while gathering and distributing food to make sure no one goes hungry. But the truth remains: Food banks cannot replace SNAP, and this important lifeline for Oregonians must be protected.
