Conversations about the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) tend to focus on the same types of stories: people misusing benefits, questionable grocery purchases or politicians claiming “food stamp abuse.”
These isolated examples are cited as evidence of a widespread problem rather than what they are: outliers used to twist the public’s views on essential programs that millions rely on to eat.
Many of the myths surrounding SNAP are fueled by the belief that people in poverty cannot be trusted to spend responsibly and should “pull themselves up by their bootstraps.” This rhetoric, perpetuated and associated with American individualism and meritocracy, ignores the fact that millions of households are struggling to cover the rising cost of food.
“I think it takes so much to ask for help and to accept a resource,” said Gina Ebbeling, the basic needs resource navigator at Western Washington University.
According to Ebbeling, a 2024 survey showed that 45.5% of Western students reported being food insecure. 52% of college students in Washington reported one or more forms of basic needs insecurity, according to the Washington Student Achievement Council.
These statistics often reflect long-term patterns of instability that began long before adulthood.
“In my family, there were kind of waves of us doing better financially,” said Kaia Roxby, a Bellingham resident. (My father’s) company went bankrupt, and that's my first memory of us ever having to rely on the government for resources.”
Growing up with financial assistance, moving out at 18 and dealing with chronic pain mean that Roxby struggles to supplement her income for groceries and relies on SNAP for food that she and her boyfriend can’t provide.
“There is a misconception that these people don’t want to work, that they’re too lazy to work, that they’re looking for a handout, and it is so far from the truth,” said Ebbeling.
These myths have harmful consequences. Many SNAP users feel scrutinized and shamed in grocery stores, adjusting what they buy to avoid criticism from strangers.
“I kind of avoid Whole Foods and like QFC and like stores like that, because I find I’ve gotten some weird vibes from people, like judging,” Roxby said.
Socially policing what low-income families purchase ignores the actual issues of rising food prices and inaccessibility. One seemingly unusual purchase overshadows the reality that SNAP is often the only way many families can afford necessities.
“It's a war on the poor, really, and that just perpetuates this stigma that's out there,” said Ebbeling.
One common misconception is that people who use SNAP “waste” their money on unhealthy options, which only further pushes the narrative that people who use supplemental income are lazy.
The myths are also far from reality. The average SNAP benefit amounts to $6.20 per person per day, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Most families have to stretch their benefits as far as possible.
Oftentimes, those who use SNAP are forced into buying the most cost-effective options available, which are usually less nutritious and commonly labeled as “junk” food. These foods are more affordable due to mass production, longer shelf lives and the focus on cheap, calorie-dense ingredients like high-fructose corn syrup.
Trudy Shuravloff, executive director of Whatcom Dream, notes the potential effects of the SNAP rollback and its impact on low-income families.
“I was talking with a woman just yesterday,” Shuravloff said. “She’s experiencing homelessness. She’s very sick right now, and so she can’t work full-time. Her SNAP benefits are all she has, and she lives on that. I don’t know what she’s gonna do.”
The fixation on outliers not only creates inaccuracies but also distracts from the real issues of hunger, affordability and access. It shifts blame onto individuals rather than a failing system, creating the need for assistance in the first place.
These individual stories are unfolding at the same time that national policies are increasingly dismissive of the people who rely on SNAP.
In November, due to conflicting court orders and the recent government shutdown, SNAP benefits took a hit. While states like Washington have issued full benefits, many households across the country are only receiving up to 65% of their normal amounts, ordered by the USDA.
“(The rollback) feels very oppressive, and it feels targeted to me,” said Shuravloff.
The public must understand that SNAP is working and is necessary for the overwhelming majority of those who use it. The few who misuse certain benefits do not define the 41.7 million people a month who rely on the system to feed themselves and their families, and distorting its image with misleading evidence harms the people who need the program the most.
The Bellingham Food Bank serves all of Whatcom County and is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The food bank does not have strict geographic boundaries and is open to anyone in need. Additionally, the Basic Needs Hub and Ebbeling are willing to help those disproportionately affected attending Western. The WHOLE Pantry, located in Viking Union 435, is open weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and provides food and hygiene items at no cost.
“You know, everyone needs to eat,” said Roxby.
Myla Balser (she/her) writes opinions for The Front. She’s a third-year Journalism student at Western, minoring in political science and film. You’ll usually find her reading, movie-marathoning or never turning down a good debate. You can reach her at mylabalser.thefront@gmail.com.
