One in six people in Connecticut ran out of money for food in the last year
SNAP changes will make hunger worse
A parent in Waterbury shared with us about the tough decisions they’ve made to keep their children fed. Without SNAP, they said they would be forced to skip meals, depend on food banks to try to stretch what’s in their pantry, and choose between paying a bill and paying for a child’s medication.
“SNAP has truly been a lifeline for me and my family,” S. told us. “It has helped ensure that my children always had food to eat, even during times when money was extremely tight. With the rising cost of groceries, SNAP allowed me to stretch my budget further so I could buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and healthier options instead of just relying on cheap processed foods. It also gave me the ability to plan meals for the week without the constant fear of not having enough to feed my kids.”
The cost of living crisis is forcing people across the state to go hungry. Last year, about one in six people (16%) in Connecticut ran out of money for food at least one month, according to new information from The Connecticut Project grantee DataHaven.
That included one in four people in cities, and one in four families with children in the home. For those who didn’t have enough money for food, about one in three (31%) couldn’t afford groceries almost every month.
People are going hungry now. Connecticut lawmakers need to create a transitional fund to help people who are losing SNAP. The state can’t wait to take action when cuts are already in effect and hurting people across Connecticut.
Last year, more than 400,000 Connecticut residents used SNAP to help pay for groceries. It’s a lifeline for people who have a disability, have lost their job, are elderly, or who are unable to get enough hours at work to pay their bills. However, cruel federal cuts and work requirements have put tens of thousands of people at risk, including single moms, children, people who are homeless, people who have a disability, refugees, and veterans. People are already struggling to make ends meet. Kicking people off SNAP is only making it worse. People are being be forced to skip meals, go hungry, or rely on food banks that are already scraping by because of the growing need. About 36,000 people who used SNAP are expected to lose it before March 31.
Another report from The Connecticut Project partner DataHaven estimates that 58,000 households in the state will lose at least $25 a month in SNAP benefits when cruel cuts go into effect, but many will lose even more. The average household that will lose benefits will have $194 less a month to buy groceries.
Community food banks are already struggling to keep up with the growing need. And food banks can’t replace being able to buy your own groceries. Even when food banks are full and open, people don’t always have transportation to get to a pantry, are unable to go when they’re open, and can’t find the food to match their dietary and medical needs.
“It's a hassle to go to the food pantries, and I'm walking miles on foot to go to food pantries whether it's cold, hot or burning outside,” Justin told us, adding that without SNAP, he’ll have to hunt for food or eat what he finds in the trash.
S., in Waterbury, said SNAP gave them peace of mind so they didn’t have to worry about where their children’s next meal would come from.
“It allowed me to focus on other responsibilities, like keeping a roof over our heads, working, and going to school, instead of constantly worrying about whether my kids would go hungry,” S. said. “Without it, I know my children’s nutrition, growth, and overall health would have suffered.”
Caprice, from Waterbury, used SNAP as she works to further her education. She’s lost SNAP because of new work requirements.
“Losing access or facing sudden changes would make it impossible for people like me to meet our basic needs while trying to build a better future,” she said. “The new work requirement changes are confusing and stressful. And they are even more stressful, because it is not easy to understand what is expected of us.”
Connecticut can’t wait. Take action now to tell lawmakers to fight for SNAP.
