Athens Wellbeing Project Warns of Local Food Security and Health Crisis
November 03, 2025
Athens Wellbeing Project Warns of Local Food Security and Health Crisis as SNAP and WIC Funding Halt Threatens Thousands of Households
Athens, Georgia — The Athens Wellbeing Project (AWP) is warning of an imminent hunger and public health emergency beginning Saturday, November 1, when federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs is suspended.
According to the most recent 2025 AWP data, 17% of Athens-Clarke County residents rely on SNAP to afford food. Even when fully funded, 16% of residents report going hungry at least once in the past year, and 33% report being unable to afford balanced meals. This shutdown will immediately affect nearly one in five county residents, compounding already high levels of food insecurity among working families, older adults, and children. An estimated 9,180 households in Athens-Clarke County will lose SNAP benefits starting Saturday. Another estimated 3,240 households will have their WIC assistance paused, which provides essential nutrition for infants and young children.
“Our data show that approximately one in five Athens residents will be directly affected by this disruption,” said Dr. Grace Bagwell Adams, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia College of Public Health and Principal Investigator of the Athens Wellbeing Project. “Athens is just one of 159 Georgia counties facing this challenge. Understanding the magnitude of what this means for households, and for the systems that support them, is essential as communities mobilize to respond.”
The AWP warns that the loss of SNAP and WIC assistance will have cascading effects across the social determinants of health. As food insecurity worsens, families often face impossible trade-offs: skipping medical appointments, delaying prescription refills, or falling behind on rent and utility bills. Research consistently links food insecurity to higher rates of emergency room visits, chronic disease exacerbations, and housing instability. The withdrawal of these programs therefore represents not only a loss of food access but a potential catalyst for a broader public health crisis.
Additionally, SNAP benefits function as direct local economic stimulus. Every dollar of SNAP spending generates an estimated $1.54 in local economic activity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The suspension of these funds will remove hundreds of thousands of dollars each month from the Athens-Clarke County food economy, affecting grocery stores, markets, and local food suppliers.
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is coordinating emergency food distribution across Athens-Clarke County and the 14 surrounding counties it serves, though charitable food systems cannot fully replace the scale or reliability of federal nutrition assistance.
“Even when safety nets are intact, many Athens families struggle to access enough food,” said Rebecca Baskam, AWP Project Manager. “Our focus now is on documenting the impact this disruption has on household stability, health, and the broader community economy.”
SNAP and WIC are not the only programs affected by the shutdown. More than 300 older and homebound adults served by Meals on Wheels, administered through the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA), will also see their meal funding suspended. Currently, no state funds are available to replace these critical nutrition supports. In addition to children, older adults are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and those facing food insecurity will be severely affected by these program interruptions.
The Athens Wellbeing Project will continue to monitor and report on local impacts of program suspension, including effects on health, housing, and economic resilience.
Media Contacts:
Rebecca Baskam – Project Manager, Athens Wellbeing Project
Email: rbaskam@uga.edu
Grace Bagwell Adams, PhD – Principal Investigator, Athens Wellbeing Project
Email: gbagwell@uga.edu
Website: www.AthensWellbeingProject.org
Athens, Georgia — The Athens Wellbeing Project (AWP) is warning of an imminent hunger and public health emergency beginning Saturday, November 1, when federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs is suspended.
According to the most recent 2025 AWP data, 17% of Athens-Clarke County residents rely on SNAP to afford food. Even when fully funded, 16% of residents report going hungry at least once in the past year, and 33% report being unable to afford balanced meals. This shutdown will immediately affect nearly one in five county residents, compounding already high levels of food insecurity among working families, older adults, and children. An estimated 9,180 households in Athens-Clarke County will lose SNAP benefits starting Saturday. Another estimated 3,240 households will have their WIC assistance paused, which provides essential nutrition for infants and young children.
“Our data show that approximately one in five Athens residents will be directly affected by this disruption,” said Dr. Grace Bagwell Adams, Associate Professor at the University of Georgia College of Public Health and Principal Investigator of the Athens Wellbeing Project. “Athens is just one of 159 Georgia counties facing this challenge. Understanding the magnitude of what this means for households, and for the systems that support them, is essential as communities mobilize to respond.”
The AWP warns that the loss of SNAP and WIC assistance will have cascading effects across the social determinants of health. As food insecurity worsens, families often face impossible trade-offs: skipping medical appointments, delaying prescription refills, or falling behind on rent and utility bills. Research consistently links food insecurity to higher rates of emergency room visits, chronic disease exacerbations, and housing instability. The withdrawal of these programs therefore represents not only a loss of food access but a potential catalyst for a broader public health crisis.
Additionally, SNAP benefits function as direct local economic stimulus. Every dollar of SNAP spending generates an estimated $1.54 in local economic activity, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The suspension of these funds will remove hundreds of thousands of dollars each month from the Athens-Clarke County food economy, affecting grocery stores, markets, and local food suppliers.
The Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is coordinating emergency food distribution across Athens-Clarke County and the 14 surrounding counties it serves, though charitable food systems cannot fully replace the scale or reliability of federal nutrition assistance.
“Even when safety nets are intact, many Athens families struggle to access enough food,” said Rebecca Baskam, AWP Project Manager. “Our focus now is on documenting the impact this disruption has on household stability, health, and the broader community economy.”
SNAP and WIC are not the only programs affected by the shutdown. More than 300 older and homebound adults served by Meals on Wheels, administered through the Athens Community Council on Aging (ACCA), will also see their meal funding suspended. Currently, no state funds are available to replace these critical nutrition supports. In addition to children, older adults are some of the most vulnerable members of our community and those facing food insecurity will be severely affected by these program interruptions.
The Athens Wellbeing Project will continue to monitor and report on local impacts of program suspension, including effects on health, housing, and economic resilience.
Media Contacts:
Rebecca Baskam – Project Manager, Athens Wellbeing Project
Email: rbaskam@uga.edu
Grace Bagwell Adams, PhD – Principal Investigator, Athens Wellbeing Project
Email: gbagwell@uga.edu
Website: www.AthensWellbeingProject.org
