The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is one of the most effective anti-poverty programs in America, offering targeted assistance to working families, children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In Connecticut, it’s not an abstract policy — it’s a lifeline for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors.
Here’s a quick SNAPshot (as of November 2025):

• One out of every five children in Connecticut relies on SNAP

• About 10.6 % of Connecticut’s population, or roughly 391,200 people, received SNAP benefits

• Nearly half of all SNAP recipients work full- or part-time jobs, often in low-wage sectors like retail, food service, and home care.

• Over 9,000 veterans in Connecticut rely on SNAP

• The annual cost of SNAP is far less than the taxes evaded by the top 1 % of Americans each year — meaning hunger could be virtually eliminated if the wealthiest paid their fair share

As the federal government shutdown continues, the Trump Administration has refused to use its authority to fund SNAP and WIC through contingency reserves, the same funds used in past crises to prevent hunger, despite court rulings. Instead, the USDA ran out of funds to pay benefits for roughly 42 million people starting November 1. 

This isn’t just reckless — it’s cruel. Parents working full-time could soon be standing in food bank lines. Seniors on fixed incomes might have to choose between groceries and medication. Children — many already facing food insecurity — risk going hungry not because resources aren’t available, but because of political gamesmanship.

Some of our union members rely on SNAP, and many of the people our members serve in their jobs rely on SNAP. This program touches all of us. When politicians target SNAP, they aren’t just targeting “someone else.” They’re targeting one out of ten of our neighbors, family and friends. Hunger is a labor issue. Food security is a public service issue. Ensuring that every family in Connecticut has enough to eat is a fight worth having.

Because no child, no senior, and no worker should go hungry while the rich get richer.