Hunger in Oregon

“SNAP…. which falls under the aegis of the USDA, delivers roughly nine times more food to people than the entire Feeding America network, which includes food banks.”

SNAP utilizes existing food storage and transportation systems (trucks, refrigeration, etc) that are already in place for regular grocery stores. The scale is much larger than what food banks can handle.

Source: https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2020/05/22/859853877/food-banks-get-the-love-but-snap-does-more-to-fight-hunger

“Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 to $1.80 in local economic activity. SNAP drives an estimated $1.6 billion into the Oregon economy each year.”

This economic support also includes local farmers markets and grocery stores, which also need a boost in an economic downturn.

Source: https://apps.oregon.gov/oregon-newsroom/OR/ODHS/Posts/Post/odhs-announces-federal-changes-to-snap-so-thousands-of-oregonians-impacted-can-prepare

15% of Oregon households participate in SNAP:

• 1 in 5 small-town households

• 1 in 6 rural households

• 1 in 7 urban households

“SNAP supports working families. Between 2019–2023, an average of 83% of SNAP households in OREGON included someone who was working.”

Households using SNAP:

• 39% include older adults

• 40% include children

• 51% include someone with a disability

Source: https://frac.org/wp-content/uploads/SNAP_FactSheets_022525_OR38.pdf

Eligibility for SNAP is a simple way for a child to be eligible for free or reduced-price school meals. Other documentation may be more complicated, or may duplicate what was required to apply for SNAP.

Source: https://www.ode.state.or.us/apps/FRLApp/Default/Apply

“This way of calculating the official poverty line has not changed since 1963, although the amount is adjusted by inflation. It is thus out of date for many reasons. For example, many expenses, such as heat and electricity, childcare, transportation, and health care, now occupy a greater percentage of the typical family’s budget than was true in 1963…. As a national measure, the poverty line also fails to take into account regional differences in the cost of living. All these problems make the official measurement of poverty highly suspect.”

Source: https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/familiesprelaunch/chapter/10-3/

Source: https://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/recipient/eligibility#WhataretheSNAPincomelimits

“Food insecurity occurs when a household cannot access enough food due to a lack of money and other essential resources.”

14.2% of Oregon is food-insecure.

40% of those have income above Oregon’s threshold of 200% of the poverty line, so they are not eligible for SNAP benefits.

Source: https://map.feedingamerica.org/county/2023/overall/oregon

The Republican’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) passed July 2025 will cut $186 billion from SNAP. This will include eliminating some types of work exemptions, increasing reporting, and shifting some costs to states. Some states will not be able to cover this surprise increase.

“The best policy response to the SNAP changes in OBBBA is for Congress to undo the SNAP changes in OBBBA.”

Increasing work reporting will reduce the number of people with access to SNAP, without improving their work prospects. During economic downturns, work requirements will be increasingly difficult, penalizing people between jobs and reducing the natural buffer SNAP provides when the economy contracts.

Source: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/snap-cuts-in-the-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-will-significantly-impair-recession-response/

Source: https://www.urban.org/urban-wire/snap-cuts-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-leave-almost-3-million-young-adults-vulnerable