Solutions Blog

Closing the SNAP Gap in Minnesota

Right now in Minnesota, only two-thirds of Minnesotans eligible for the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) are enrolled – ranking Minnesota 39th in the nation in SNAP access. Due to the pandemic, 1 in 9 Minnesotans are currently experiencing food insecurity and we set out to understand why more people in Minnesota aren’t accessing the help they need.

Last year, Hunger Solutions Minnesota undertook a project with The Food Trust and Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), with support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to explore barriers to SNAP enrollment and participation and identify solutions to improve the program.

Two statewide surveys were collected gathering information from over 600 individuals with lived experience. Listening sessions and key informant interviews with survey participants, and three virtual statewide meetings with a diverse group of over 90 stakeholders were also done to gather more in-depth feedback

I was disqulaified for help by $32 in a year. Literally, we were starving. We do use food shelves up here in duluth […] that’s what we pretty much live off.”

Mother of two, Duluth

Of the SNAP participants surveyed, 90% indicated that they were experiencing food insecurity despite being enrolled in SNAP. Many SNAP participants also mentioned challenges in income and benefit fluctuations, and many commented that increasing the gross income limit for the program would help those just above the eligibility threshold to qualify.

I feel with the cost of living as high as it is here in Minnesota […] a lot of families like ours fall through the cracks; poor enough to almost starve but not poor enough to get help.”

Mother of four, North Minneapolis

Hunger Solutions Minnesota and SNAP project partners developed several recommendations to improve SNAP by:

• Improving SNAP awareness and reduce stigma
• Introduce changes to make the application process easier and more equitable
• Increasing benefit levels
• Increasing the gross and net income limits. 
• Allow SNAP recipients to use benefits for hot food purchases by seeking USDA SNAP hot foods waiver
• Allow broader access to online grocery purchases
• Engage people with lived experience to improve SNAP

The struggles of the COVID-19 pandemic will have lasting effects on those in the state, and there has never been a more critical time to invest in, expand and improve SNAP.  Implementation of the recommendations outlined in the report will not only help those struggling to put food on their tables but help Minnesota become a healthier, more thriving state for all who live in it.