‘Stretching us to our edges’: Oregonians, charities brace for reductions in SNAP benefits

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — This week, the Oregon Department of Human Services began mailing notices to people whose SNAP benefits are changing or ending as a result of President Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

According to ODHS, the changes required by federal law will affect more than 313,000 Oregonians.

ODHS started sending notices to people who applied for SNAP between July. 4 and Sept. 30 of this year, as well as to recipients whose benefits will change or end.

Officials say recipients will be evaluated under new work requirements, and some groups, like refugees and asylum seekers, will lose eligibility.

KOIN 6 spoke with Ross Walker, a man who said his roommate is still waiting to find out if she is losing her benefits.

“All we know is I’ll be relying on the SnowCap here a little more, and we’re just going to have to go without and do the best we can,” he said. “I don’t expect I’m in a physical position to get a full-time job working long hours and everything at 81 years old.”

SnowCap’s executive director, Kirsten Wageman, said they are especially worried about families with children ahead of the SNAP reductions.

“We’re also concerned about people who are struggling with disabilities, who maybe their application for disability hasn’t been approved yet or gone through,” she said. “They’re too sick to work, and unable to benefit from food stamps. That’s a really tough position, especially for the elderly who may never have needed services before.”

Wageman added that these reductions come at a time when they are already seeing record-high demand. While they continue to move forward, she admitted it is not easy.

“We’re always searching for new resources to help meet the needs,” she said. “So we’re very engaged, we’re very focused, and we’re grateful that our organization tries to always plan for times like this. But this is really stretching us to our edges.”

According to ODHS, some of the reductions are set to go into effect in November..