Federal funding cuts have severely disrupted our ability to assist vulnerable individuals and those facing food insecurity. Below are recent federal cuts and how Helpline House is responding. Let’s stay informed and support one another through this challenge.
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Our Community Food Bank
LFPA
Our food bank has lost the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) resources. This relatively new program helped states and tribes buy food from local farmers for distribution to food banks, providing fresh, nutritious, locally grown foods.
SNAP
Our clients who are part of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) may be affected, as they are already low-income individuals and families relying on SNAP for food assistance. We do not yet know how Washington State will implement any cuts to SNAP. However, we do know that our neighbors will be negatively impacted, regardless of the outcome.
TEFAP
Our food bank is experiencing a reduction of over 40% in The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) commodities which are USDA-purchased foods to food banks, food pantries, and other emergency feeding organizations.
Our Social Services
Proposed Deep Cuts Hurt Our Clients
As of recent reports, several agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) have been affected by funding freezes or proposed cuts. CBS Health Watch July 11, 2025 Source
Community Programs Weakened
Community Health Centers and Head Start programs: Some programs have sporadically been blocked from accessing funding, leading to shutdowns
How We're Responding
To Food Bank Shoppers
Our food bank has seen households served doubled in the past two years, a 66% increase. Our food bank serves over 400 shops weekly. To better manage our resources and serve our community effectively, our food bank has adjusted families visits once per shopping week.
To Our Community
All of these factors contribute to stress and anxiety. Neighbors have brought up federal cuts in nearly every meeting with social service staff. They are proactively reaching out to find out what resources and programs they qualify for, how Helpline House can assist them, and are planning for worst-case scenarios.
