Guest Editorial … A dire message from Detroit Friendship House

By Khurshida Hossain
Executive Director at Detroit Friendship House
For our team at Detroit Friendship House, caring for the community is the highest priority driving our work. Unfortunately, poor federal policy will directly impact the people we serve.
Each week, we distribute nutritious, culturally appropriate food to 600-plus of our neighbors. At least half of our pantry guests rely on the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as the Bridge Card here in Michigan. Despite nearly three-quarters of our guests being employed, many need SNAP to increase the amount of groceries their paycheck can buy each month; our pantry helps fill the gaps in their cupboards.
Recently, President Trump signed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), his budget wish list, into law. This legislation is not beautiful: it makes several massive cuts to social support programs, like cutting $186 billion in funding over 10 years for SNAP.
Additionally, the law amends qualifying standards for SNAP: increasing work requirements for parents, homeless individuals, veterans, and certain foster care individuals; raising the age cap on work requirements by 10 years; and removing our state government’s ability to request temporary waivers on SNAP restrictions.
Advocates for the bill would note that the legislation cuts “unnecessary” spending and reduces tax burdens for everyday Americans.
While it is true that the lowest earners (making under $34,600 each year) could see a $150 reduction in their annual tax requirement, the bill mandates drastic cuts to social services across all areas of life.
The Center for American Progress estimates that insurance premiums will increase anywhere from 83% to a staggering 500% for some low-income Americans; the Congressional Budget Office estimates 16 million individuals will lose insurance coverage due to the OBBBA.
In other words, low-income Americans get a tiny amount of extra cash each year to split between the ballooning costs of groceries, healthcare, and other daily needs.
With the reduction in SNAP funding and inflation making it harder to purchase essentials, we expect to see an increase in pantry visitors in the coming months, stretching our resources.
Food banks and pantries across the country are scrambling to figure out how to continue their operations. Food security is a right, and our guests deserve to be treated better.
We will continue working hard to provide nutritious groceries served with dignity; we hope our community will lean in to support as well.
(Detroit Friendship House, the food pantry on Conant, serves 1,800 families annually.)
Posted Aug. 1, 2025