Leaders from the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Chicago Food Depository came together on March 4 for an urgent discussion on the challenges facing the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The virtual event, SNAP at Risk: A Conversation on the Future of Chicago’s Food Security, focused on how rising costs, lingering effects of the pandemic, and major federal policy changes are reshaping hunger across the region.

Jack Lavin, President and CEO of the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce, and Kate Maehr, Executive Director and CEO of the Greater Chicago Food Depository, made one thing clear early on. Food security is not a side issue. It is closely tied to economic stability, workforce health, and the strength of local businesses.

Hunger in Chicago Is About Affordability

One of the most important points Maehr emphasized is that hunger in Chicago is not caused by a lack of food. Grocery stores are stocked. Supply chains are functioning. The real issue is that many people simply cannot afford what is on the shelves.

Today, about one in five households in Chicago faces food insecurity. For households with children, that number rises to one in four. These are families juggling work, school, rent, transportation, and healthcare, all while trying to stretch paychecks that no longer keep up with rising costs.

The situation worsened dramatically during the pandemic, when demand at food pantries doubled almost overnight. While some parts of the economy recovered, hunger never returned to pre-COVID levels. Food prices have risen more than 20 percent over the past five years, and rent increases over the last year have pushed many families who were previously stable into crisis.

Perhaps most striking is this reality. Most people visiting food pantries today are working. Hunger is not a sign of unemployment. It is a sign that work alone is no longer enough to cover basic needs.

SNAP Is Essential, and Cuts Are Already Hitting Families

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP, emerged as the backbone of food security in this conversation. Maehr explained that for every one meal provided by food banks, SNAP provides nine. Emergency food systems play a vital role, but they were never meant to replace SNAP.

Recent federal changes under HR1 represent the most sweeping shift to the program in decades. In Illinois, roughly 200,000 adults are expected to lose SNAP benefits starting May 1 due to new work requirement rules that remove long standing state flexibility. Many of these individuals face serious barriers, including past incarceration, trauma, or unstable employment histories.

Looking ahead, Illinois may also be required to cover hundreds of millions of dollars each year to keep SNAP running. If the state cannot afford that cost, the program could disappear entirely. That would have devastating consequences for families and for communities already stretched thin.

Food pantries are bracing for a surge they know they cannot fully absorb. As Maehr noted, the emergency food system is often run by volunteers in church basements and community centers. It is compassionate, but fragile.

Businesses Are Feeling the Impact and Can Be Part of the Response

This conversation was especially relevant for employers. SNAP is not just a social program. It is an economic driver. In Illinois alone, SNAP brings billions of dollars into local communities each year and supports tens of thousands of jobs. Every dollar spent through SNAP circulates through grocery stores, suppliers, and farmers.

When SNAP benefits are reduced or delayed, businesses feel it quickly. Workers experience more health issues and absenteeism. Productivity drops. Consumer spending declines. In smaller or rural communities, even a modest loss in grocery revenue can push a store to close, creating food deserts and further economic strain.

Maehr challenged employers to take a closer look at their role. If employees are working full time and still relying on food pantries, it raises hard questions about wages and job stability. Tools like MIT’s Living Wage Calculator can help organizations understand what it truly costs for employees to meet basic needs in their communities.

Businesses also have powerful ways to help right now. They can advocate for effective policy, partner with food access organizations, volunteer as teams, and use their platforms to share accurate information and reduce stigma around hunger.

Moving Forward Together

Despite the gravity of the moment, the conversation ended with hope. As Maehr said, she has never met anyone who wants children or families to go hungry. Chicago has the food, the talent, and the will to do better. What is needed now is leadership, collaboration, and a willingness to see food security as both a moral and economic priority.

This is not a distant issue. It is unfolding in workplaces, neighborhoods, and schools across the region. And how Chicago responds will shape its economy and its people for years to come.