When the safety net shrinks: How local communities can step up

Back in the spring, I wrote in this column that proposed federal cuts to SNAP and Medicaid were real and would hurt our neighbors. At the time, H.R. 1 was just a budget proposal. Earlier this month, Congress passed the bill, locking in sweeping changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Medicaid, programs that help Montanans put food on the table, access healthcare, and raise healthy children. While the details are complicated, the reality is heartbreakingly simple: more of our neighbors will go without. 

Let me paint the picture of what this could look like in our neighborhoods. It’s a February morning in 2026. A dad in our community drops off his teenagers at school. He’s worked seasonal construction jobs his whole life. But under the new SNAP rules, because his hours fluctuate and he can’t prove 80 hours of work every single month, his family’s food assistance is cut. Now he skips breakfast so his kids can eat. They’ve started visiting North Valley Food Bank more often, but the line is longer. He’s not the only one who’s lost benefits. 

With the passage of H.R. 1, an estimated 30,000 Montanans are at risk of losing some or all of their SNAP benefits. Cuts are already underway. Starting this month, updates to the Thrifty Food Plan, the basis for calculating SNAP benefits, are frozen, meaning benefits won’t rise with real food costs. In January, parents of children as young as 14 must begin proving monthly work hours. By 2028, Montana will be required to pay 5–25% of SNAP costs, a shift of up to $402 million to the state budget, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Meanwhile, the federal share of SNAP administrative costs drops from 50% to 25%, leaving fewer staff to process applications or answer questions. 

On the Medicaid front, the outlook is equally troubling. By late 2026, Montanans enrolled through expansion will need to verify 80 hours of monthly work and recertify their eligibility every six months. These are major hurdles in a state where seasonal work, caregiving, and rural isolation are common. By 2029, even those just above the poverty line will have to pay premiums and co-pays to access care. More than 30,000 Montanans may lose Medicaid as a result. Our rural hospitals could lose critical funding. Some may close. 

At North Valley Food Bank, we’ve already seen rising need since the pandemic, now serving over 1,200 people each week. We’re adapting to prepare for more. In May, we expanded our store hours to provide safe, equitable access to food and ensure we have the volunteer capacity to meet demand. We’ve rented a larger off-site warehouse to buy in bulk and stretch every food dollar. We’re continuing to partner with local farms to harvest and distribute thousands of pounds of produce, and adjusting mobile pantry routes so rural neighbors can access food closer to home. We’re also expanding case management services to help customers navigate the paperwork burdens these policy changes bring. 

Alongside these SNAP cuts, we’ve also experienced our own funding losses. To keep up with projected demand, we’ve had to raise our private fundraising goal to $1.2 million. 

Some argue that H.R. 1 provides needed tax relief, eliminating taxes on tips and overtime and expanding the child tax credit for households earning under $50,000. They say stricter work rules promote self-sufficiency. But those measures don’t offset the scale of cuts to vital programs, nor do they address real-life barriers like caregiving, inconsistent hours, or health challenges. A tax credit doesn’t fill an empty plate or replace a missed doctor’s visit. 

So what can we do? We build, one action at a time. Support your local food bank. Volunteer, harvest from your garden, or donate if you can. Host a community dinner. Check in with neighbors who may be struggling. If you’re a writer, send a letter to the editor. If you’re a business owner, sponsor a food item or offer employee volunteer hours. If you’re a parent, teach your kids what community care looks like. 

Because while none of us can fix this alone, together, we can build a stronger table and make sure there’s room for everyone. 

Sophie Albert is the executive director of North Valley Food Bank.