Thousands Lost SNAP in Shelby County; Advocates Call Statewide Trend a “Crisis” – Memphis Flyer

Shelby County had 17,905 fewer food-assistance participants in July 2026 than July 2025, an 11.7 percent decline in a statewide trend anti-hunger advocates call a “crisis in Tennessee.”

Even with the sharp decline, Shelby County now has — and has historically had — the most participants of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), what was once called food stamps. Enrollment numbers here were more than double No. 2 Davidson County over the last year.

In July 2025, 153,635 people from Shelby County got SNAP. The latest numbers from the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) show that number fell to 135,730 in July 2026. Caseloads here fell from 72,829 to 65,222. Monthly benefits declined from $33.8 million to $29.7 million — a loss of $4.1 million in the last year.

Every Tennessee county lost SNAP participants from July to July, according to state data. Overall, Tennessee had 87,275 fewer SNAP participants in July 2026 than in July 2025, a 12.5 percent decline, from 696,791 to 609,516 people.

Anti-hunger advocates at the Tennessee Justice Center (TJC) said Thursday that stricter federal eligibility rules and administrative problems are driving the decline. The group outlined the decline in a webinar titled ”Plummeting SNAP Participation: Crisis in Tennessee.”

Crys Riles, the center’s anti-hunger advocate, cited expanded work requirements, eligibility changes, paperwork problems, and agency errors for reasons for the decline.

“These are all ways that we’ve identified that are causing people to lose their SNAP, even if they are eligible,” Riles said. “Paperwork is always the number one that we hear from people.”

As SNAP enrollment fell, food-aid providers reported sharply higher demand. Panelists participating in the TJC’s webinar Thursday said families are increasingly turning to food banks and pantries for help.

Tammy Deiter, senior manager of government relations and programs at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, said her group has seen a 51-percent rise in those visiting their food banks since January 2025. She said she does not expect this to stop soon.  

“It’s almost an acceptance now that this is kind of how things are, and it’s just more difficult to make the dollar stretch — a more sustained, continuing new reality that we’re facing,” Deiter said.

Laura Eckersley, director of programs for Inspiritus, said its North Nashville pantry has seen twice as many people over the last year. The pantry now serves an average of 1,450 people monthly, while its spending has risen sharply, she said.

“Last year, we were spending somewhere in the region of $1,500 to $2,500 per week on food,” Eckersley said. “Now we’re averaging about $6,000 a week.”

Emmalyn Troupe, a community health coordinator at River Valley Health in Knoxville, described consequences for families she’s spoken with.

“I’ve heard of parents skipping meals so their kids can eat,” she said. “I’ve heard of people skipping meals so they can afford gas to go to work.”

The federal government currently pays the full cost of SNAP benefits, while Tennessee and Washington divide the program’s administrative expenses evenly, according to the Sycamore Institute, a nonpartisan Nashville think tank.

That arrangement is changing under President Donald Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Beginning October 1, Tennessee’s share of administrative expenses will rise from 50 percent to 75 percent. Starting October 2027, the state could also be required to pay as much as 15 percent of benefit costs, depending on its payment-error rate.

The error rate measures how accurately the state determines eligibility and benefit amounts. It includes both overpayments and underpayments and does not necessarily indicate fraud.

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