Behind the Numbers: The Human Side of HR1 SNAP Changes

Recently, members of the Community Impact Team at the Food Bank set out to learn more about how changes to SNAP were affecting our neighbors. We wanted to hear directly from community members about what they were experiencing, what challenges they were running into, and how those changes were affecting everyday life. 

To do that, we created a survey and visited food pantries in both urban and rural communities. We collected responses, talked with neighbors one-on-one, and spent time listening to stories that couldn’t always be captured in a checkbox or survey response. 

What started as a research project quickly became something more personal. As we traveled from community to community, we met people doing their best to make limited resources stretch further. We heard from parents, older adults, caregivers, people living with disabilities, and individuals working to navigate changing requirements while trying to keep food on the table. 

One neighbor shared: “I will skip meals so I can feed my family.” 

It’s a simple statement, but it captures the reality many people are facing. 

What We Learned Through Conversation 

At the beginning of the project, our focus was on collecting information. We wanted to make sure we were asking questions consistently, documenting responses accurately, and gathering enough data to better understand the situation. 

But as conversations unfolded, it became clear that the numbers only told part of the story. For many neighbors, the survey opened the door to conversations they hadn’t had the opportunity to have elsewhere. People spoke honestly about their challenges, frustrations, and concerns. Sometimes they answered a question. Other times they shared a story. 

At a food pantry in Carson City, one member of our team spoke with two neighbors living with disabilities. What began as a survey conversation turned into a deeper discussion about their experiences and the barriers they were facing. 

It was also a reminder that we can’t always see what someone is carrying with them. Their disabilities weren’t immediately visible, and that experience challenged assumptions while reinforcing an important lesson: we never truly know what another person may be navigating. 

That wasn’t unique to one conversation. Throughout the project, we were reminded again and again that every person who sat down with us brought a different set of circumstances, concerns, and experiences. 

Many neighbors shared their struggles with “the work requirements and keeping up with the changes in the SNAP paperwork and how the program works.” For other neighbors, the challenge centered on securing documentation related to a disability, with one neighbor saying, “I need a notice from my primary care doctor saying I’m disabled.” 

When we look at survey results, these experiences can easily be grouped under a category like “administrative barriers.” But hearing directly from neighbors paints a fuller picture. On paper, what may sound like filling out paperwork often means additional stress, uncertainty, and frustration for those already facing difficult circumstances. 

Food Insecurity Is Rarely Isolated and the Challenges Neighbors Are Facing Are More Than Just About Food 

One thing that stood out across nearly every conversation was how connected people’s challenges were. 

Food insecurity was often just one piece of a much larger picture. Neighbors talked about transportation, housing costs, caregiving responsibilities, health conditions, disabilities, employment, and the rising cost of everyday necessities. For many households, these challenges overlap and compound one another. 

Some of the most memorable conversations came from neighbors who were caring for loved ones while also trying to manage the loss of food assistance or rising household expenses. Their stories highlighted how difficult it can be to separate food access from everything else happening in a person’s life. 

One participant told us: “Depending on your situation, transportation is the hardest part of finding and maintaining work or even access to food.” 

That comment stayed with us, especially as we spent time in rural communities throughout the project. 

Visiting these communities in person provided important context that data alone can’t always capture. Services may technically be available, but reaching them can be another challenge entirely. A resource might exist on paper, yet still be difficult to access because of distance, transportation barriers, or limited availability. 

Those experiences reinforced the importance of including rural communities in research efforts like this. Without intentionally seeking out those perspectives, important parts of the story can be missed. 

The Choices Families Are Forced to Make 

Many neighbors described making tradeoffs that no one should have to make regularly. 

Some reported buying less food while others talked about reducing portion sizes or skipping meals altogether. Many relied more heavily on food pantries and meal programs to help get through the month. 

Several people spoke about having to choose between groceries and other necessities. “We’re having to skip meals and buy less food to make our other bills or prioritize paying our rent over food,” said one participant. 

Another explained the challenges of supporting a child with specific dietary needs: 

“We have a son with profound autism that only eats 2 foods and usually pantries don’t have these, so we are having to purchase out of pocket which greatly effects our budget.” 

Stories like these serve as an important reminder that food access isn’t always as simple as having food available. Families have different needs, health conditions, routines, and circumstances that shape what works for them. 

The Stories That Stay with You 

Research is often focused on trends, patterns, and findings, and those things matter. They help us understand what is happening across communities and identify areas where support may be needed. 

At the same time, it’s difficult to walk away from conversations like these without carrying some of them with you. There were responses that our team returned to more than once. Conversations that stayed in our minds long after the day ended. 

As the project came together and the data was compiled, team members recognized comments from neighbors they had personally met. Reading those responses felt different because they weren’t just survey responses anymore. We could remember the conversations behind them. 

We could remember where we were sitting, what was being discussed, and the person who had trusted us enough to share their experience. 

One neighbor told us: “I just wish that one of them would have meals with me for a week to see what it feels like to struggle.” That perspective carries a weight that’s hard to fully capture through data alone. 

Listening Comes With A Responsibility 

Whenever someone chooses to share their story, there is a responsibility that comes with that trust. We don’t want these experiences to simply become statistics in a report. The information shared through this project can help identify where support is needed, whether that’s assistance navigating SNAP processes, improving resource connections, addressing transportation barriers, or strengthening access to food and services. 

Throughout the project, there were also moments when team members were able to connect neighbors with resources they weren’t aware of. Those conversations served as a reminder that research and direct service don’t have to exist separately. Sometimes listening can lead directly to helping. 

The stories shared by our neighbors can also help bring lived experience into conversations with community leaders, policymakers, and others working to address these challenges. 

Many participants expressed a willingness to continue sharing their experiences. With their privacy, confidentiality, and choices respected, those voices can help shape conversations about the systems and programs that directly affect them. 

More Than a Research Project 

When this project began, our goal was to better understand the impact of SNAP changes in our communities. By the end, we had certainly learned more about the challenges people are facing. But we also came away with a greater appreciation for the people behind those experiences and the importance of taking the time to listen. 

Our team gained confidence in talking with community members, but more importantly, we became better listeners. We learned when to ask another question, when to offer information, and when someone simply needed the opportunity to be heard. 

Looking back, what stands out most isn’t the number of surveys collected or interviews completed. It’s the people we met along the way. 

It’s the conversations that happened around pantry tables. The neighbors who trusted us with personal stories. The moments that provided a deeper understanding of the challenges many families are working through every day. 

We’re grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in this project and share their experiences with us. Now the work is making sure those experiences don’t end with the survey, but help inform how we listen, how we respond, and how we support our communities moving forward.