Greenberg calls on federal government to restore SNAP benefits to thousands of Louisville residents

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — As Kentucky faces record levels of food insecurity, Louisville's mayor is calling on the U.S. government to restore federal assistance to the more than 10,000 residents and 3,000 children who lost their benefits under federal changes enacted last year.

Mayor Craig Greenberg said Monday he joined more than 200 mayors from across the country in a letter encouraging the Senate to reject what they call harmful cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP. The federal food program serves about 42 million people, roughly 1 in 8 Americans, in lower-income households. In Kentucky, it helps more than 13% of residents.

The mayor said local nonprofits like Dare to Care are helping to fill in the gap, but federal action is needed.

"We will continue to work in partnership with Dare to Care and other organizations across the community," Greenberg said. "Our hope is that the federal government steps up as well to restore SNAP benefits to where they were so families can get that important needed support for their family."

Data released last month shows many Kentuckians are food insecure, with some advocates warning that SNAP benefit losses and rising costs could make the problem worse.

According to the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy, U.S. Department of Agriculture data showed around one in five Kentuckians experienced food insecurity between 2022 and 2024. The report ranked Kentucky second in the nation for food insecurity during those years. The data also found the state had the highest rate of very low food security, meaning people may skip meals or cut back on food because they cannot afford enough to eat.

This comes as Dare to Care sees record levels of food insecurity locally. New data from Feeding America shows more than 200,000 residents across the Louisville and southern Indiana area face food insecurity. The group's "Map the Meal Gap" study shows 1 in 6 people are food insecure (15.4%) and 1 in 5 children are food insecure (21.9%).

Dare to Care said those numbers mark "a significant increase from 186,250 food-insecure individuals" reported last year, representing a 62% increase since 2021 — the highest amount of food insecurity ever recorded in Dare to Care's history.

The organization said these findings underscore a growing crisis. Leaders said food insecurity rates are startling, and are even higher than rates seen during the COVID pandemic and 2008 recession. Last month, Dare to Care President and CEO Vincent James said the group has seen a 38% reduction in federal commodities. Between this year and last year, James said Dare to Care received 2 million pounds less in food supply after reductions in support from the USDA. He also noted that the data released in Feeding America's study was collected before new SNAP reductions were approved.

"People in Louisville are working hard every day, but they are still falling behind," James said Monday in a news release. "Families are making impossible choices between food, gas, healthcare, and childcare, choices they should not have to make."

More than 4 million people are expected to lose SNAP benefits as a result of President Donald Trump's administration's One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law in July 2025 by Trump. The legislation cuts $186 billion to SNAP over the course of 10 years.

Those individuals are now turning to local food banks for help. But at Neighborhood House and other Louisville food pantries, that is creating a growing gap between the amount of food people need and the amount available.

Dare to Care supplies much of that food to local pantries, including food it receives through federal programs. This year, Dare to Care says it has received 3 million fewer pounds of food. That puts pressure on places like Neighborhood House.

"We are facing having to turn people away," said Jennie Jean Davidson, the organization's CEO and president.

This month, Neighborhood Place said it received only half of its normal monthly supply.

"Until the federal government makes it easier for more food to get to more people and for more people to afford the food they need, we're going to stay in this place," Davidson added.

The Trump administration said these changes were made to encourage states to be less reliant on the federal government and to eliminate unnecessary government spending.

New work requirements impact benefits

New rules and policy changes included in the legislation decreased the amount of people receiving SNAP benefits. Additionally, new work requirements under the federal bill require many adult SNAP recipients to work, volunteer or participate in job training for at least 80 hours a month. Those who don't are limited to three months of benefits in a three-year period.

The new rules apply to adults ages 18 to 64, without dependents under the age of 14. Qualifying work includes working for pay, whether self-employed or employed by a company or business; participating in job training or education programs; volunteering at a qualified nonprofit or public institution.

SNAP recipients will also need to recertify their eligibility for benefits every six to 12 months.

The work requirements previously applied to adults ages 18 through 54 who are physically and mentally able to work and don't have dependents under the age of 18. The new law applies those requirements to those ages 55 to 64, and to parents without children younger than 14.

It repeals work exemptions for homeless individuals, veterans and young adults aging out of foster care. It also limits the ability of states to waive work requirements in areas lacking jobs.