New Analyses Show SNAP Cuts Are Fueling a Downward Spiral for Arizona Families and Local Economies
Loss of food assistance linked to rising evictions, financial instability, and broader economic strain
PHOENIX — New analyses from the Arizona Center for Economic Progress show that recent cuts to SNAP — including stricter eligibility rules and expanded work requirements — are setting off a chain reaction across Arizona’s economy, driving increased financial instability for families, rising eviction risks, and added strain on local communities.
Rather than improving employment outcomes or strengthening economic mobility, the research points to a compounding effect: When families lose access to food assistance, it becomes harder to stay housed, maintain stable employment, and keep up with basic expenses — ultimately making already challenging economic conditions worse.
“SNAP cuts don’t happen in a vacuum,” said Joseph Palomino, director of AZCenter. “When families lose help putting food on the table, that pressure shows up everywhere — in missed rent, growing debt, and increased instability that affects entire communities.”
A compounding crisis
Arizona has seen the biggest decline in SNAP participation in the U.S. since mid-2025, at the same time many families are already grappling with high housing costs and rising everyday expenses. The result is a growing overlap between food insecurity and housing instability — two challenges that reinforce each other.
As fewer families receive assistance, local economies also feel the impact. SNAP benefits are spent quickly and locally, supporting grocery stores, small businesses, and jobs. When those dollars disappear, so does that economic activity.
What the analyses show
Two new analyses break down how these policy changes are playing out in real time:
- Stricter SNAP eligibility rules are not improving employment outcomes. A review of national research finds that work requirements do not lead to sustained job growth but do lead to significant drops in participation — particularly among workers with unstable hours and incomes.
- Loss of SNAP benefits is increasing financial and housing instability. As families lose assistance, they are more likely to fall behind on rent, take on debt, and face eviction — especially in a state already experiencing high eviction filing rates.
Together, the findings highlight how reducing access to SNAP is not solving economic challenges — it is intensifying them.
“Taking away food assistance doesn’t create stability — it undermines it,” Palomino said. “If we want stronger communities and a stronger economy, we need policies that reduce pressure on families, not add to it.”
Read the full analyses
