Federal discussion of reduced SNAP funding draws state and local concern

Yahoo

13-05-2025

May 12—ROCHESTER — Amenah Alasadi anticipates the need for more flexibility in helping Rochester-area families if a proposed change to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program occurs.
As a Families First of Minnesota home visitor, she helps families find resources to help balance budgets when their paychecks fall short.
"The incomes they have do not cover all the expenses for these families," she said during a roundtable discussion on Monday morning, pointing to a need for SNAP support, which was previously known as food stamps.
She pointed to other potential services, but also cited gaps in the help people need to keep food on the table amid increased costs for a variety of necessities.
"Channel One is helping a lot of families, but sometimes they don't have everything," she said of the regional food bank and its shelves in Rochester.
Channel One Executive Director Virginia Witherspoon said food shelves strive to provide a variety of healthy food options but cannot cover all potential needs, which is where SNAP benefits provide more flexibility.
"Channel One doesn't distribute SNAP and doesn't receive SNAP, but we know that it is — much bigger than us — the largest and most effective program," Witherspoon said Monday morning, during the roundtable discussion held at Families First's Rochester offices to address potential SNAP changes.
Overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the program provided assistance to 42.2 million people in 2023, according to the department's most recent data.
In Olmsted County, 709 families received benefits in March this year, with census data pointing to 6% to 8% of local households relying on the support at some point in recent years.
Federal lawmakers have been working on Farm Bill revisions that could shift some of the cost to states. Early versions of proposed legislation sought to shift up to 25% of the cost to states within 10 years, but potential revisions are expected to emerge this week.
Tikki Brown, the commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families, said the proposed shift could mean $220 million annually for the state program, which she said is unachievable.
"We are unable to make up that type of cost in our state budget," she said, noting it would likely require a reduction of dollar amounts issued or the number of people receiving support.
With the average benefit set at $5 a day, Witherspoon said local food shelves would likely become overwhelmed if the benefits declined. She pointed to the 2023 benefit decrease in the wake of the COVID pandemic.
"We know that SNAP cuts lead directly to increased demand at food shelves," she said.
With statewide food shelf visits reported at 9 million last year, Witherspoon said the demand has tripled in recent years as access to food from government commodities and corporate donations has continued to decrease.
"We are looking at a perfect storm of everything going poorly at once," she said.
Brown said the federal benefit is intended to fill gaps, rather than cover all food costs for a family, which makes food shelf options critical on top of the federal program.
"Nearly 70% of families with children who receive benefits have at least one working adult in their household," she said. "This tells us that even with a paycheck, many families need help making their ends meet."
It was a message echoed by Gary Wertish, president of the Minnesota Farmers Union, who said many myths and untruths surround the federal program that has been a safety net for families.
A former Renville-area farmer who now assists his son operate their family farm, he said he's seen the need in his community and throughout the state when families struggle.
"People are proud, but they will use it when they need it," he said of his community members.
Steve Barthel of the Minnesota Grocers Association said the impact goes beyond families needing food by providing an economic impact for grocery stores and their employees.
"SNAP supports almost 400,000 jobs across the country," he said, pointing to roughly $20 million in direct wages.
In Minnesota, he said cuts to the SNAP program could lead to an estimated loss of 1,500 grocery-store jobs due to decreased revenue in an industry facing tight profit margins.
"There are other economic impacts that come from what truly is an economic stimulus program, in addition to all the good it does in fighting food insecurity across the state," he said.
The Rev. Krista Strum of Rochester's Hosanna Lutheran Church said the potential ripple effects are likely to add stress to already-struggling community programs.
"Our churches are seeing people daily coming in and asking for assistance," she said, pointing to church programs throughout the community that seek to fill existing gaps.
"We are very concerned about the funding shift," she said. "(It's a concern) for those who are already depending on it, but also for those who are on the margins and struggling to put food on the table. That's increasing."