The federal government says there are too many Americans who receive benefits from its food assistance program. In its “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” the Trump administration has characterized the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — which helps low-income residents buy groceries — as a failed initiative. Supporters of the bill say cutting back on who qualifies will allow the program to focus on those most in need.
The bill recently passed through the U.S. House of Representatives and will make it harder to qualify for food assistance, while also shifting more of the cost burden from the federal government to states.
"Have we heard that the community is concerned, that our service providers are concerned, that our clienteles are concerned? Absolutely."— Tiffany Rowe, Butte County Social Services Department director
In 2024, more than 3.1 million households in California received CalFresh benefits, the state’s version of SNAP. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has estimated that more than 300,000 residents are at risk of losing benefits because of new work requirements for adults without dependents. State officials say while some residents could lose CalFresh entirely, many others will see their monthly benefits reduced.
According to CDSS research, hundreds of thousands more people will receive less assistance based on the reduction in an allowance for home utility costs, and further restrictions of the Thrifty Food Plan, which raised benefits to match the rising costs of groceries.
According to data from CalFresh and the USDA, North State residents struggle with food insecurity at a higher rate than the national average.
There is a consensus among those working to combat food insecurity in the region that things are going to get worse.
Even without exact details regarding the scope and timetable of the impending changes, organizations are already attempting to determine how they will meet increased demand.
"... food costs have continued to rise dramatically, and the fact that benefits are not rising along with them does set us up for ... an absolute risk of a significant hunger crisis, especially in rural communities.”— Aaron Kunst, Center for Healthy Communities co-director
Along with fewer people qualifying for CalFresh, many who remain on the program will see their benefits reduced, rural grocers and farmer’s markets will lose revenue, and food banks will be strained.
Tiffany Rowe, who directs Butte County’s social services department which administers CalFresh, said organizations of all sizes are bracing for a difficult period as they wait to see how SNAP changes take effect.
“Have we heard that the community is concerned, that our service providers are concerned, that our clienteles are concerned? Absolutely,” Rowe said.
Rising food costs, shrinking benefits
Food prices have jumped more than 20% in the past four years, but upcoming changes will prevent CalFresh benefits from keeping pace. The Thrifty Food Plan, which normally adjusts benefit amounts based on current prices will now be cost-neutral — meaning any future increases would need to be offset by cuts elsewhere in the program.That worries advocates like Aaron Kunst, co-director at the Center for Healthy Communities, a Chico State based community service organization that manages several social service programs.
“We know that food costs have continued to rise dramatically, and the fact that benefits are not rising along with them does set us up for — not that we don’t already have a hunger crisis — but an absolute risk of a significant hunger crisis, especially in rural communities,” Kunst said.
Food banks under strain
The gap between rising food costs and stagnant future benefits is already putting more pressure on North State food banks.
Dignity Health Connected Living is the designated food bank for Shasta County. Director Staci Wadley said they’re currently dealing with the loss of multiple funding streams. Three separate programs that boosted their food supplies were cancelled by the federal government this spring. One of those allowed Connected Living to buy produce for the food bank directly from local farmers. Wadley said losing that support could cut their food distribution in half.
Tom Dearmore,the chief operating officer of the Community Action Agency of Butte County that runs the North State Food Bank, said his organization is always looking to find new sources of food. The need for them to expand services to meet rising demand has been a constant effort — one he fears will become more difficult with less access to federal resources.
" ... this increases costs for the state and our local counties while decreasing cost at the federal government ... at a time when everything is being reduced, that is a recipe for disaster ..."— Aaron Kunst, Center for Healthy Communities co-director
“People will still come, and they’ll just end up getting less food,” Dearmore said.
Challenges for rural economies
Kunst, with the Center for Healthy Communities, fears new eligibility rules will strain counties already stretched thin and hinder the state’s ability to process food assistance applications.
“Ultimately, this increases costs for the state and our local counties while decreasing cost at the federal government. Of course that is the intent of this, but at a time when everything is being reduced, that is a recipe for disaster when it comes to the hunger crisis,” he said.
Research from Colorado State University shows that every dollar spent in healthy food programs generates about $3 in local economic activity. Advocates fear that there could be a long-term economic effect of SNAP cuts that will have a profoundly negative impact on rural communities.
That includes many rural grocers and farmers who rely on CalFresh for a significant portion of their revenue. Without safety nets to rely upon, some may struggle to stay in business, potentially further exacerbating the food access problem already faced by residents in remote areas.
"... we have a lot of nonprofits needing food, so we could accommodate more growth with food donors.— Sheila McQuaid, 530 Food Rescue program director
As SNAP benefits shrink, less federal money will reach local grocers and farmers. According to a yearly report from Chico State’s Center for Healthy Communities, CalFresh customers spent $135,000 at just four Butte County farmers’ markets last year. The state-funded Market Match program matches CalFresh dollars that shoppers use at the markets up to a set daily limit. Market Match led to nearly $240,000 going straight to local farmers.
Growing the local safety net
Advocates say the impending SNAP cuts mean local organizations and community members will likely be asked to do more.
530 Food Rescue is a program in Butte County that works to save food that would normally be wasted, and gets it to people who need it. The program organizes and transports food from retailers, farmers, and public institutions like schools or hospitals, to nonprofit distribution centers, food banks and pantries in the county.
Groups like 530 Food Rescue exist independently of federal funding. The program relies on over 145 active volunteers and an app-based system to relocate surplus food. Program director Sheila McQuaid said they couldn’t operate without community support — and demand will only grow as food insecurity rises.
“With food recovery, sometimes you’re going to need more volunteers, sometimes you’re going to need more nonprofits,” McQuaid said, “right now we’re pretty solid on volunteers, we have a lot of nonprofits needing food, so we could accommodate more growth with food donors.”
There is an enormous network of organizations and individuals who are working together to combat food insecurity in the North State. Their funding streams come from multiple sources, some that could be greatly affected by SNAP cuts.
Everyone involved who spoke with NSPR agreed the most vital resource is the community itself. They say meeting growing demand will depend on the empathy, energy and generosity of local residents as federal support declines.