The Athens Wellbeing Project (AWP) has issued a warning about an impending crisis in food security and public health in Athens-Clarke County, Georgia. This comes as federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) programs is set to be suspended starting November 1.
Data from the AWP’s 2025 survey shows that 17% of county residents rely on SNAP benefits to buy food. Even with these programs fully funded, 16% have experienced hunger at least once in the past year, and a third say they cannot afford balanced meals. The suspension will directly impact nearly one out of every five residents. Estimates suggest that about 9,180 households will lose SNAP benefits immediately, while another 3,240 households will have their WIC assistance paused.
“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.”
AWP cautions that losing access to SNAP and WIC could have wider effects beyond hunger alone. As food insecurity grows, families may need to choose between paying for food or other essentials like medical care or housing costs. Previous research has shown a link between food insecurity and increased emergency room visits, worsening chronic diseases, and unstable housing situations.
The local economy is also expected to feel an impact from the halt in federal nutrition assistance. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, each dollar spent through SNAP generates $1.54 in local economic activity. Without these funds circulating each month, grocery stores and other food suppliers could see significant losses.
To help address immediate needs during this period, the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia is organizing emergency food distributions throughout Athens-Clarke County and neighboring areas it serves. However, charitable organizations are not able to fully compensate for the loss of large-scale federal aid.
“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.”
Other vulnerable groups are also affected by the shutdown: More than 300 older adults who receive Meals on Wheels through the Athens Community Council on Aging will see their meal funding suspended as well. There are currently no state resources available to fill these gaps in critical nutrition support.
AWP says it will continue monitoring how program suspensions affect health outcomes, housing security, and local economic resilience moving forward.
For more information or media inquiries:
Rebecca Baskam – Project Manager
Email: rbaskam@uga.edu
Grace Bagwell Adams – Principal Investigator
Email: gbagwell@uga.edu
Website: www.AthensWellbeingProject.org
