Why Refugee Food Assistance Is an Investment, Not a Handout

Why Refugee Food Assistance Is an Investment,
Not a Handout

Imagine fleeing war, torture, and persecution — leaving everything behind for safety. That's the reality for refugees who come to America hoping for a new beginning. Refugees who come here have a strong track record of resilience and hard work. They establish themselves quickly, but when they first arrive, they need a boost. Help with the basics: food, housing, and healthcare.

This summer, before the government shutdown even began, the White House deemed refugees — adults and children — ineligible for food assistance through SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Prior to July's passage of the Republicans' One Big Beautiful Bill, refugees could depend on bipartisan support for SNAP. But, no longer. The cuts were scheduled for summer but hadn't taken effect — until SNAP was slashed for everyone this November. Now, refugees have no support. Many are even barred from working because of their status.

Dr. Mohammed Sadiq is Executive Director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health at Public Health Initiative. He tells me that refugees have a poverty rate of up to 50%, and they are in desperate need of help when they arrive.

"That transition period that's very crucial for them, that we set them for success and we give them the basic means. And SNAP is certainly one of them."

Traditionally, our government also provided housing and other financial assistance, but even that was just cut from 12 months to four.

What does losing that basic support actually look like? Dr. Sadiq shared a story that haunts him:

"I was talking to a woman with five minor children, a refugee family without husband, and the woman was working eight to five, probably with minimum wage. Since I heard about the discontinuation of SNAP, I think about women like her and think. ‘What will happen to her?’"

She’ll spend hours lining up at food banks, taking time from her minimum wage job. Even if she gets some food from charities, it won't be enough. When she runs out, she'll skip meals and may need to switch to lower-quality food.

"Food is at the center of everything,” says Dr. Sadiq. “Food is medicine, and with empty stomachs, they cannot go to work, and I think that's that crucial part of their basic needs."

Food insecurity has lifelong consequences for people who've already faced years of instability. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 90,000 refugees will lose SNAP benefits beginning this month, creating a domino effect of hardship.

In the long run, SNAP isn't a giveaway — it's an investment. The Department of Health and Human Services reports that by the fifteen-year mark, refugees contribute $124 billion more through taxes than they receive in benefits.

It just makes no sense not to help.

– Dr. Michael Wilkes with a Second Opinion