More than 600,000 Coloradans currently rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to purchase healthy, nutritious food. Half of all SNAP recipients in Colorado are children, and 10% are older adults. Ensuring that people’s basic needs, like access to food, are met is essential to advancing health equity and helping Coloradans thrive.
According to the 2025 Pulse Poll, 12% of respondents said they have skipped meals in the last year because they couldn’t afford food, and 25% reported cutting back on food or health care in order to afford housing. These interconnected challenges underscore the difficult trade-offs facing many Coloradans.
Due to the ongoing partial federal government shutdown, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has not released funds to states to pay SNAP benefits. As a result, Colorado is currently unable to issue the approximately $120 million in November SNAP benefits it typically disburses at the beginning of the month. Benefits cannot be issued until Congress passes, and the President signs, legislation restoring federal funding for the program.
While the funding gap is immense, philanthropy and individual generosity can make a meaningful difference. We encourage all Coloradans who are able to support their local food pantry or food bank with a monetary donation, or to give directly to Feeding Colorado.
If you need food assistance, please contact:
- Colorado 211: Call 2-1-1 or 866-760-6489, or visit 211colorado.org (Available in multiple languages)
- Feeding Colorado: Visit feedingcolorado.org/find-food or email [email protected]
- Hunger Free Colorado: Call their Food Resource Hotline at 855-855-4626 (Available in multiple languages)
For the most up-to-date information, visit the Colorado Department of Human Services website at cdhs.colorado.gov/snap.