Excitement for the start of school is mixed with anxiety for many Baltimore families, as food insecurity looms large, in part, because of federal Republicans’ budget priorities and decisions.
Cuts to critical nutrition programs, including the expiration of time-limit waivers for Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD), will leave thousands of Marylanders without access to SNAP benefits. Every month, SNAP helps nearly 700,000 people in Maryland, including working families, older adults, and vulnerable people.
These cuts come at a time when housing costs are rising, outpacing wages for many low-income Marylanders.
“With the school year starting, families should be focused on learning — not worrying about where their next meal will come from,” said LaMonika Jones, director of Maryland Hunger Solutions. “These federal budget cuts are not just numbers on a page — they’re empty lunchboxes and skipped dinners for children across our state.”
The federal budget passed by Republicans in Congress and signed by President Donald Trump in early July reduces access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), disproportionately impacting low-income households in Maryland. When ABAWD waivers expire, adults who had them will lose benefits unless they meet strict work requirements, even though they already face significant barriers to employment and training programs.
Baltimore City and Prince George’s County will be hardest hit in the state by these changes, as those areas face higher-than-average food insecurity rates. More than one in eight children in Maryland live in food-insecure households, and more than 600,000 Marylanders depend on SNAP to help them pay for groceries.
“Federal decisions have local consequences,” said Jones. “We need Maryland’s leaders to step up and ensure that no child starts the school year hungry.”
Maryland Hunger Solutions is calling on state and local leaders to protect the state’s most vulnerable families, and the organization also offers help with SNAP applications and finding emergency food resources. Visit their website for help, or email snapoutreach@mdhungersolutions.org.
Aint no way in the world our children should suffer going to school and being hungry without food in the refrigerator and cabinets.Donald Trump get your priorities back in order.Man it’s bad enough that our children is going around committing all these carjacking and robberies to elderly people in Baltimore MD.Our kids needs to eat and learn in school to make a better future for themselves.amen Lord please help us and give us whatever we need.Thanking you kindly 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿