95,000 Tennessee residents lose access to SNAP after federal changes
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. — After sweeping cuts to social programs last year, tens of thousands of Mid-South families have lost access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Tennessee saw the greatest drop in the Mid-South. According to federal and state data analyzed by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, 95,000 fewer people in Tennessee have access to food stamps over a year’s time — a drop of almost 14%. In Mississippi, SNAP enrollment dropped by 11%. In Arkansas, almost 6% fewer people have access to SNAP.
If you compare April 2025 and April 2026, there are about 20,000 fewer people enrolled in SNAP in Shelby County — a drop of 13%.
Republicans said the changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill pushed people to go to work. Democrats worry they will lead to more food insecurity in the region.
“This type of policy takes people off the rolls, but it does not take them away from poverty,” said Professor Elena Delavega, who studies poverty at the University of Memphis.
Delavega believes there is a direct connection between food insecurity and violence. “We see that people have shorter tempers; anger flares more easily because there is such desperation, there is such stress or load in the community,” she explained.
Republican lawmakers said the One Big Beautiful Bill helped create tax cuts for working families.
“I’m proud the Senate Republicans fought back to deliver real tax relief for Mississippians this year and for the future,” said Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a video posted to social media in April.
However, working mother Regina Moy said minimum wage jobs don’t provide enough money to support a family and buy food. She said she receives about $300 from SNAP to feed her four children.
“We work from sunrise to sundown; we’ve got to do what we’ve got to do,” she said. “I got four kids. It’s not enough food to split between four kids.”
“In recent weeks, we have seen an increase in our hungry neighbors seeking food assistance as many households continue to face rising grocery costs and financial hardship,” wrote a spokeswoman for the Mid-South Food Bank. “We want our community to know that we are here to assist and support anyone in need. We encourage residents to stay informed about their benefits and seek assistance if they are experiencing challenges accessing food or navigating the application process.”
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