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New SNAP report, Join the statewide 2027 DataHaven Survey Advisory Council or Youth Council!
New Report Maps Changes in Food Assistance
This week, DataHaven released a new report, “Benefits Lost: Mapping Town-Level Declines in SNAP Coverage Since the Passage of H.R.1.”
H.R.1 has increased the administrative burden of applying for SNAP, and these burdens have resulted in a large decline in SNAP enrollment. Our report uses data from Connecticut Department of Social Services to show that SNAP enrollment fell 15 percent (55,000 people) between June 2025 and June 2026.
Our report also uses town-level data to analyze how SNAP coverage has changed among those who are likely eligible for SNAP. We show that the places where the need for SNAP is greatest have experienced the
largest drops in coverage.
The report includes other useful insights, including a breakdown of enrollment losses by age group and a map of the town-level economic impacts of benefit losses.
The economic impact findings align with the benefit losses that DataHaven forecasted in our SNAP report from October 2025. That report predicted that Hartford, Bridgeport, New Haven, and Waterbury would each lose benefits ranging from $1.05M to $1.4M per month. In our new report, we estimate these cities lost between $1M and $1.3M monthly between June 2025 and June 2026. Our results also align with the Urban Institute’s forecast that Connecticut would lose between $11M and $15M per month in SNAP benefits. We estimate that the state is currently losing about $11M in benefits per month.
On the report page, you can explore an interactive map with the breakdown of enrollment losses between June 2025 and June 2026 by Connecticut town, or download a spreadsheet with all of our estimates.
Join the Advisory Council for the 2027 DataHaven Community Wellbeing Survey!
Your advice is needed to help DataHaven determine what information to collect through its statewide survey program! In early 2027, DataHaven will begin Wave 9 of the DCWS, which will conduct live interviews of thousands of randomly-selected adults across the state. Supported by dozens of public and private partners in Connecticut, survey produces reliable statistical information on key issues for all 169 towns as well as for specific communities within the state that are not represented in other public data sources.
The Advisory Council is open to representatives from all Connecticut agencies, non-profits, and community-based organizations. Over 300 individuals participated in the Advisory Councils for our 2021 and 2024 surveys.
The initial registration form takes about 10 minutes to complete. Please register by October 31, and feel free to share it with your colleagues and partner organizations.
Register for the 2027 DCWS Advisory Council (SurveyMonkey link).
Call for Youth Action Council members!
Roles are open for student representatives in the second cohort of the DataHaven Youth Action Council. For the 2026-2027 school year, participants will develop data and research skills while helping their communities and providing advice on many statewide initiatives.
This program is entirely student-led. High school students who would like to participate in the council are encouraged to apply by September 30. Share the flyer above, or visit our Instagram page to help share the call for participants.