Mayor Kate Gallego urges Phoenix families who lost SNAP to get free city help

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego is urging families who have lost federal food aid to use a new, free city program that helps them get through the paperwork now required to keep SNAP benefits.

“As a parent, I know it’s not kids’ responsibility to put food on the table, and that nutrition early on has such a lifelong impact,” Gallego said Thursday on KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News.

Arizona has seen the steepest SNAP decline in the nation. Arizona’s SNAP caseload fell nearly 50% in a year, from 444,810 households in May 2025 to 224,143 in May 2026, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture data.

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the federal tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed in July 2025, extended SNAP work requirements to adults up to age 64 and to parents whose youngest child is 14 or older, adding new paperwork to stay enrolled.

“There is a fair amount of paperwork now to get these federal benefits,” Gallego said. “We think our human services navigators, the folks who are experts in government programs, can help people walk through and qualify for benefits they deserve.”

How to get Phoenix SNAP help

The city’s Human Services Department launched its SNAP Navigation Support program last week. Staff offer one-on-one help with applications, renewals and work requirements, and they help residents organize documents to submit to the state.

The city does not administer SNAP, determine eligibility, or approve or renew benefits.

The Arizona Department of Economic Security processes all applications and renewals, and city staff help residents understand what the state requires and prepare complete paperwork before submitting it.

Questions can be sent to SNAPNav@phoenix.gov.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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