Advancing Greenwich’s food security initiatives by strengthening & leveraging relationships, knowledge and networks |
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UPCOMING COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE (CoP) |
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Christian Duborg CT's Food & Nutrition Policy Analyst Friday, November 21st 9:00 - 10:15 Christian will discuss the findings and recommendations noted in his upcoming 2025 Food Security Report. Connecticut has the highest percentage of food insecure residents in all of New England and the second highest in the Northeast region. Food insecurity is rising along with the cost of living, while federal resources are decreasing. Christian's presentation will include data around the impacts of the SNAP crisis here in Connecticut. The narrative & data in the report are invaluable, please join us! The Food & Nutrition Policy Analyst is a part of The Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity. Learn more about Christian here. |
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CONNECTICUT IS STEPPING UP! |
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House Bill No. HB-8003 the state's $500 million funding response to cutbacks in federal funding, passed in a special session last week. The funding will cover gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Low Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. Learn more about state and nationwide impacts below. |
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GREENWICH IS STEPPING UP! |
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- Greenwich United Way made its initial emergency food fund grant of $40,000 to Neighbor to Neighbor.
- Jewish Family Services Greenwich raised over $42,266 so far -- some of which will go towards providing grocery cards .
- Commission on Aging prepares to launch A Little Goes A Long Way at the Wallace Cafe a $10 gift card program for clients.
- Community pop-up food drives continue all over town! Neighbors showing up for each other in real time is most impactful and inspiring.
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The stopgap spending bill that passed through the Senate and ended the Government shutdown included measures to fund SNAP through September 2026. However, the food insecurity crisis is far from over. SNAP cuts in OBBBA/H.R.1 go into effect in December. See DataHaven's Food Assistance at Risk Spreadsheet which estimates the impact of projected federal SNAP benefit cuts on CT towns. See here. FRAC's article: SNAP Cuts in OBBBA/H.R.1: Billionaires Win, Working Families Lose does an excellent job summarizing the bill's impact, see clips below and the full article here. SNAP is one of the most effective anti-hunger programs in the U.S., reaching 42 million people and generating up to $1.80 in economic activity for every $1 spent. Cuts to SNAP mean direct losses for farmers, grocers, and state and local governments. - Reduced revenues: State income tax revenues are projected to fall by $3.7 billion in 2026 alone. Farmers stand to lose $24 billion over the next decade as household food purchases decline. Within six months, as participants lose SNAP, small grocers could see sales decline by as much as 6.7 percent.
- Cost shifts to states: Starting in fiscal year (FY) 2027, states must cover 75 percent of SNAP administrative costs, up from 50 percent today. By FY 2028, states will also begin paying for SNAP benefits, tied to their “payment error rates.” This upends SNAP’s long-standing structure, state and federal partnership, and leaves states exposed to volatile new costs.
- Eroded benefits: SNAP benefits will no longer be adjusted to keep pace with food inflation. Internet expenses can no longer be factored into benefit calculations; only older adults and people with disabilities can automatically claim the full standard utility allowance if they are receiving fuel assistance. Additionally, SNAP-Ed nutrition education was defunded.
- Expanded time limits: All adults ages 18–64 must document 20 hours of work every week to receive SNAP, unless they meet an exemption. This includes parents and caregivers of children 14 years old and older, veterans, youth aging out of foster care, and workers with irregular schedules.
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WE have the power to be food system changemakers. |
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Greenwich Foodshed Alliance is a program of The Foodshed Network, a fiscally sponsored organization of Third Sector New England, Inc. (TSNE) |
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