With food insecurity surging across the state, SNAP remains one of Minnesota’s most powerful tools to fight hunger and strengthen communities. The program supports more than 440,000 residents—including children, seniors, and working families—while also boosting local economies.
As food insecurity continues to rise across Minnesota, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) remains one of the state’s most vital tools in the fight against hunger. The Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF) recently released a new SNAP Resource Guide, underscoring the program’s importance to more than 440,000 Minnesotans—including children, working families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
SNAP plays a critical role in reducing hunger, improving health outcomes, and boosting local economies across both rural and urban Minnesota.
Why SNAP matters
For many Minnesota families, SNAP is not a luxury—it is a lifeline. The average SNAP recipient in Minnesota receives $5.46 per day to help meet basic nutritional needs. In fiscal year 2022–2023 alone, SNAP infused $1.1 billion into Minnesota’s economy, with each $1 in SNAP benefits generating up to $1.50 in local economic activity.
SNAP not only helps families put food on the table, but also strengthens local grocery stores, co-ops, farmers markets, and food retailers across the state. More than 3,600 authorized retailers accept SNAP, keeping local businesses vibrant and helping them serve their communities.
Who SNAP reaches
In an average month, SNAP helps more than 440,000 Minnesotans:
- 152,000 children
- 72,000 seniors
- 52,000 adults with disabilities
Many SNAP recipients are working families—more than 60,000 households receiving SNAP also have at least one employed adult. Yet, despite paychecks, many families still struggle to afford enough food, especially in the face of rising food costs.
The rural impact
Hunger is not just an urban issue. Roughly 45% of SNAP recipients live outside the Twin Cities metro, where rural communities often face fewer food access resources. SNAP helps fill that gap, ensuring that rural children, seniors, and families can access nutritious food. The program also supports rural economies by driving revenue to local grocers, co-ops, and farmers markets.
Food insecurity is surging
Food shelf visits are at historic highs in Minnesota. In 2024, Minnesotans made nearly 9 million visits to food shelves—a fourth consecutive record-setting year. This alarming trend highlights an urgent need to protect and strengthen programs like SNAP, which help reduce the pressure on emergency food systems and provide more sustainable, long-term solutions to hunger.
For every meal provided by a food shelf, SNAP delivers nine. Cuts to SNAP would send shockwaves through food shelves that are already stretched thin and unable to keep pace with growing need.
Risks of cutting SNAP
Proposed cuts to SNAP funding would harm Minnesota’s most vulnerable communities:
- One in five SNAP households has no other income.
- Cuts would disproportionately affect working families, seniors on fixed incomes, adults with disabilities, Tribal Nations, and rural communities.
- Without SNAP, food insecurity would increase, worsening public health outcomes and driving up health care costs.
Households experiencing food insecurity spend 45% more on medical care annually. Protecting SNAP means protecting Minnesotans’ health and preventing higher state healthcare costs.
SNAP and Minnesota’s children
SNAP is crucial for the health and development of Minnesota’s children:
- Nearly 50,000 children under age 6 receive SNAP benefits.
- Nearly one in three kindergarteners benefits from SNAP—helping ensure they are healthy and ready to learn.
- Participation in SNAP is linked to an 18% greater chance of graduating from high school.
Without SNAP, Minnesota risks leaving its youngest residents vulnerable to hunger, developmental setbacks, and achievement gaps.
Speak up for SNAP
SNAP is Minnesota’s most effective tool for addressing hunger and poverty. It supports more than 440,000 Minnesotans each month, strengthens local economies, and builds healthier communities.
With food insecurity on the rise, now is the time to protect SNAP—not weaken it. Policymakers, advocates, and residents must stand together to ensure that this essential program continues to serve those who need it most.
For more information and to access the SNAP Resource Guide and the Speak Up for SNAP toolkit, visit: dcyf.mn.gov/speakup.