What you can do to help amid SNAP funding uncertainty

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, November 5, 2025

As a community food and emergency services provider on Bainbridge Island and North Kitsap, Helpline House is deeply concerned by the recent changes to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the very real impact they will have on our neighbors. I write to provide the facts and to urge our community and leaders to respond.

What is happening

– As of November, SNAP has become temporarily unfunded at the federal level, meaning benefits will not be distributed during this month unless new congressional action is taken.

– When funding is restored, major changes and cuts will immediately go into effect under the recently passed federal legislation.

– According to state data, roughly 1 million Washingtonians currently receive SNAP benefits.

– Under the new legislation, every Washington recipient will see benefit reductions — for example, the average household’s allotment under the “Thrifty Food Plan” will go down by about $56 per month.

– Further, more than 130,000 Washingtonians could lose eligibility altogether under the new rules.

– Nationally, the legislation proposes cuts of up to $300 billion over the next decade from SNAP.

Why this matters to our community

– For many individuals and families whom we serve, SNAP is a lifeline: it helps people move from crisis toward stability. Reduced benefits or loss of eligibility means fewer groceries, more stress, and harder decisions about paying for housing, utilities, medicine, or food.

– Locally, when food-benefit dollars diminish, the ripple effect is real: fewer dollars at local grocers and farmers markets, increased demand on food banks like ours, and less capacity for us to serve those who come to us seeking help.

– Our region already grapples with high housing costs, transportation challenges, and rising food inflation—so these cuts disproportionately affect older adults on fixed incomes, working families, and people with disabilities who may already be stretched thin.

The urgency

Now is not the time to reduce access to nutrition assistance. A funding lapse and subsequent benefit reductions mean families may skip meals, rely more on food banks, or turn to less-nutritious food options. These choices carry long-term consequences in health, education, and stability. A strong SNAP program is not just a social safety net — it is an economic lever, helping communities stay healthy and productive.

What we at Helpline House ask of our community and leaders:

1. Local awareness — If you know someone who receives SNAP, please help share accurate information and resources. We encourage recipients to contact our case management team for local food assistance and planning support during this funding pause.

2. Advocacy — Reach out to your state and federal representatives, urging them to restore funding immediately and to oppose further cuts that would weaken nutrition access.

3. Community support — Helpline House will see increased demand as benefits stop and shrink. We have been asked by many what an individual or business can do now. Donations of food, funds, and volunteer time will be vital.

4. Partnerships — We will continue to collaborate with local growers, grocers, and other service providers to maximize impact, but federal policy changes make local action even more critical.

What we are doing

In addition to increasing our volunteer pool, we will be adding food bank hours on Monday, beginning Nov. 10 . We will be open now 5 days/week.

In closing

When benefits are cut—or, as now, when funding stops altogether, the most vulnerable among us are the first to feel the impact. These are our neighbors: children, seniors, working families, and people with disabilities. The decision to limit or delay SNAP benefits is not just a policy issue—it’s a statement about our priorities as a community and as a nation.

At Helpline House, we believe every person deserves access to enough healthy food—not just today, but consistently. Thank you for considering this urgent issue as you read, write, and lead in our community.

Maria Metzler is the executive director of Helpline House.