Skip to main content
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • Our Vision
    • Our Vision Overview
    • Why Health Equity
    • Affirming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
    • Focus Areas
    • Measuring RWJF Progress
  • Grants
    • Grants Overview
    • Active Funding Opportunities
    • Awarded Grants
    • Grantee Stories
    • Grant Process
    • Grantee Resources
  • Insights
    • Insights Overview
    • Blog
    • Our Research
    • Advocacy And Policy
  • About RWJF
    • About RWJF Overview
    • Our Guiding Principles
    • How We Work
    • Impact Investments
    • Staff And Trustees
    • Press Room
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Accessibility Statement
Find A Grant
Global Search Dialog
    Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
    • Our Vision
      • Our Vision Overview
      • Why Health Equity
      • Affirming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
      • Focus Areas
      • Measuring RWJF Progress
    • Grants
      • Grants Overview
      • Active Funding Opportunities
      • Awarded Grants
      • Grantee Stories
      • Grant Process
      • Grantee Resources
    • Insights
      • Insights Overview
      • Blog
      • Our Research
      • Advocacy And Policy
    • About RWJF
      • About RWJF Overview
      • Our Guiding Principles
      • How We Work
      • Impact Investments
      • Staff And Trustees
      • Press Room
      • Careers
      • Contact Us
      • Accessibility Statement
    Find A Grant
    Global Search Dialog

      How Cuts to Nutrition and Housing Assistance Ripple Through Communities

      Brief Jul-31-2025 | Robert Wood Johnson Foundation | 2-min read
      1. Insights
      2. Our Research
      3. How Cuts to Nutrition and Housing Assistance Ripple Through Communities
      Download brief
      A mother holding her son up to a high shelf at the grocery store.

      Cuts to vital food and housing programs risk unraveling a tightly linked support structure that strengthens the fabric of our communities. 

       

      Across the country, rising food and housing costs are pushing families to the brink—while critical resources are being pulled away. Recent and pending federal cuts to vital nutrition and housing programs threaten to deepen the crisis, undermining not just individual stability but the strength and resilience of entire communities.


      The Issue

      Congress passed and the President signed a bill cutting SNAP by $186 billion, the largest reduction in the program’s history. Meanwhile, a proposed 43% cut to federal rental assistance in the FY 2026 budget threatens to deepen the economic security crisis. These cuts will devastate families and have a ripple effect across communities:

      • Families will be forced to make impossible choices between food, housing, healthcare, and other essentials.
      • Communities will face increased instability and declining wellbeing as cuts reduce access to basic services people rely on to thrive. 
      • Local economies will see job losses and increased demand for food, housing support, and other social services. 

       

      Why it Matters

      Every community in every ZIP code should be a place where people can live their healthiest lives. Regardless of race or income, everyone should have a safe, affordable home, easy access to healthy food, clean water, and good job opportunities. SNAP and federal rental assistance programs have been vital lifelines. Protecting these programs means protecting the stability and dignity of millions of families and communities.


      By the Numbers

       

      The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

      • SNAP stabilizes communities by reducing poverty, improving health, and preventing hunger.
        • Nearly 80% of SNAP benefits go to households that include a child, elderly adult, or a person with a disability. 
      • SNAP also has a direct impact on local economies.
        • Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates about $1.50 in economic activity, as families spend at over 250,000 local grocery stores and supermarkets. In 2020, SNAP purchases added more than $1 billion to federal and $975 million to state and local tax revenues—strengthening economies nationwide.

       

      Federal Housing Assistance Programs

      • Federal rental assistance programs help roughly 10 million people with the lowest incomes afford rent, including nearly 3.2 million children, 2.6 million people with disabilities, and almost 2 million older adults.
        • Programs impacted include Housing Choice Vouchers, Section 8, Public Housing, and supportive housing for seniors (Section 202) and people with disabilities (Section 811).
        • Housing voucher values are tied to local rental costs and require inflation-adjusted funding increases to serve the same number of families as rents rise—yet only about 25% of eligible households currently receive assistance.

       

      Conclusion

      The ability to afford safe housing and healthy food is essential to building strong communities and supporting the economic foundation of the nation. Investments in support programs like SNAP and rental assistance boost people’s income so they can afford housing and put healthy food on the table. These federal programs help families; protect the fabric of our communities; and allow everyone to live their healthiest lives.

      By its very design, the [Senate reconcilliation] bill will make our country sicker, put children at risk of going hungry, and make it harder for families to afford basic necessities—all to further enrich wealthy individuals and corporations.

      Read the full statement

      —RWJF President and CEO Richard E. Besser, M.D.

      Related Content

      SNAP Boosts the Economy, Reduces Hunger, and Improves Health

      Every community in every ZIP code should be a place where people can live their healthiest lives, and that starts by ensuring that no one in this country—especially our kids and grandkids—goes hungry. 

      Read the brief
      Library
      A Muslim mother and daughter grocery shop.

      Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program

      The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides short-term financial support to individuals and families furthest from economic opportunity who struggle to afford food.

      1-min read

      Library
      A homeowner standing on her front porch.

      Housing Policy and Practice

      Creating safe, affordable, and equitable housing and neighborhood conditions help everyone in a community reach their best possible health and wellbeing.

      1-min read

      Housing

      Subscribe to receive Funding Alerts & more

      Explore the latest in reflection and research from subject matter experts at RWJF and our wide network of partners.

      Email address already subscribed. Please check your inbox to manage your subscriptions.

      Subscribed!

      Thank you. You are now subscribed.

      Tell us what type of content you want to receive.

      Be informed with our twice a month newsletter updating you with relevant news and research around a Culture of Health, as well as the latest funding opportunities.

      Get funded by RWJF: Receive notifications when new funding opportunities are released.

      Get the latest health policy updates directly to your inbox. This monthly newsletter provides timely resources on how the day’s policy topics affect health, wellbeing, and equity.

      Shop talk for researchers. This monthly newsletter covers research news and opportunities from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

      Communications expedite action. Get periodic research and expert insights on the best ways to communicate so we can spread what works.

      Sometimes we have news, announcements or opportunities that don't quite fit the subscription parameters above. If you're interested, we'll send you this information under "There's more...". *If you've indicated you are an EU resident, we will only send these communications if you intentionally check this box.

      Which profession or pursuit best describes you?

      Area(s) Of Interest

      Unsubscribe

      Stop receiving all emails from RWJF

      This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
      • CONTACT RWJF

        50 College Road East
        Princeton, NJ 08540-6614

         

        US Toll Free: (877) 843-7953

        International: +1 (609) 627-6000

      • MANAGE YOUR GRANTS

        MyRWJF Login

        • Facebook
        • LinkedIn
        • YouTube
        • Instagram

      • Our Vision
        • Our Vision Overview
        • Why Health Equity
        • Affirming Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
        • Focus Areas
        • Measuring RWJF Progress
      • Grants
        • Grants Overview
        • Active Funding Opportunities
        • Awarded Grants
        • Grantee Stories
        • Grant Process
        • Grantee Resources
      • Insights
        • Insights Overview
        • Blog
        • Our Research
        • Advocacy And Policy
      • About RWJF
        • About RWJF Overview
        • Our Guiding Principles
        • How We Work
        • Impact Investments
        • Staff And Trustees
        • Press Room
        • Careers
        • Contact Us
        • Accessibility Statement

      ©2001- 

      Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. All Rights Reserved. 

       

      • Manage Email
      • Privacy Statement
      • Terms and Conditions