Feeding Our Future: How NH Hunger Solutions Tackles Food Insecurity
Food insecurity has been on the rise in New Hampshire since 2021, mirroring a post-pandemic national trend. Today, rising costs of living, federal funding cuts, and fears of a recession threaten to make this public health issue even worse for families in the Granite State.
New Hampshire Hunger Solutions (NHHS), a policy advocacy organization, is working to end hunger in our state and improve access to federal nutrition programs. The New Hampshire Center for Justice & Equity (NHCJE) spoke with Tiffany Brewster, Policy Development and Advocacy Director, about the organization’s efforts to raise awareness of the root causes of food insecurity, increase participation in school meals, and build statewide coalitions to drive long-term solutions.
Understanding Food Insecurity: Beyond Hunger, Toward Nutrition
Food insecurity means not having reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food to live a healthy and active life. More than skipping meals, food insecurity is about not knowing where your next meal will come from, having to choose cheaper, less nutritious options to get by, or even choosing between food and other essential needs like medicine, bills, or childcare.
“People assume hunger looks like someone not eating at all, but it can look like a packet of peanut butter crackers for lunch. Sure, that’s food — but it’s not nutrition.”
It is estimated that, as of September 2024, 31% of adults and 39% of children in New Hampshire lived in households that reported having insufficient food, with 27% of older adults also reporting not having sufficient food. Yet food insecurity isn’t always visible, and those most affected aren’t always who we expect.
Families living at or just above the poverty line often face the greatest need, but many aren’t accessing the federal nutrition programs designed to help, like Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program (NSLP), Summer Food Service Program (SFSP), or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Stigma, complicated application processes, and past negative experiences all contribute to this gap.
“People feel a sense of pride in being able to care for their families on their own,” said Brewster. “Some don’t think the benefits are worth the hassle, or they’ve had bad experiences applying in the past. We need better data on the client experience—and we also need to normalize these programs as something families are entitled to if they qualify,” she added.
The impact is clear. For example, only 46% of students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals and already receive school lunch also participate in school breakfast. That means more than half of these students may be starting their day without the nutrition they need to focus, learn, and thrive.
“We also need to normalize these programs as something families are entitled to if they qualify.”
Streamlining Access to School Meals to Close Gaps
NHHS believes we need different approaches to ensure eligible kids don’t fall through the cracks. That’s why the organization has been leading the charge on a simple, yet powerful idea that is already in use in other states: if a child already qualifies for free or reduced school meals and is on Medicaid, why not use the same verified income data to automatically enroll them in free or reduced-price school meals?
A policy like this would reduce paperwork, making it easier for families to access support. “Families are already submitting income documentation through Medicaid. This just eliminates the extra step of filling out and submitting another form to the school,” highlighted Brewster.
Earlier this year, the proposal to implement Medicaid Direct Certification in New Hampshire, introduced as House Bill 583, was tabled in the House. More recently, an attempt to include a pilot version of the policy as an amendment to the budget bill (HB2) was narrowly defeated in the House by a single vote (181-182) on April 10.
Despite the setback, NHHS remains committed to advancing the policy. The organization is now working to introduce the proposal through the Senate Finance Committee as part of the state budget process. “We’re asking for an amendment to the budget bill that would make this a budget-neutral change,” Brewster explained. “It would ensure families who want the support can get it, and those who don’t can opt out.”
A complementary bill, SB 204, would raise the eligibility threshold for free school meals to 200% of the federal poverty level, helping more children access the nutrition they need to learn and grow. This bill would also help schools cover the upfront costs of offering online school meal applications, reducing the administrative burden and giving people the privacy to fill out forms with sensitive information with more ease and fewer errors.
“This is a good start,” noted Brewster. “The state would share in the cost of raising the eligibility threshold, making it more feasible for districts to participate. That means more kids getting the food they need—and fewer families having to worry about how to make ends meet,” she added.
“That means more kids getting the food they need—and fewer families having to worry about how to make ends meet.”
Building Coalitions and Raising Awareness
NHHS advances its mission to end hunger not only through policy advocacy, but by building a strong, statewide network of partners working toward shared goals. Central to this effort is the New Hampshire Food Access Coalition, which brings together organizations to align messaging to educate people about hunger and its root causes, collaborate to amplify outreach and reduce the stigma surrounding nutrition programs, and build advocacy power among coalition partners.
“We have been training our direct service partners about who qualifies and how to apply,” said Brewster. “We also connect them with existing resources like the NH Food Bank, which provides SNAP application assistance and SNAP outreach materials.” NHHS also collaborates with key partners like UNH Extension, the New Hampshire Food Bank, and many local community centers and food pantries.
Educational initiatives are a vital part of the strategy. Through coalition-building and a commitment to clear, consistent messaging, NHHS empowers communities with the information they need, meeting immediate needs while laying the foundation for long-term change.
The organization produces public-facing tools such as explainer videos on programs like SNAP and WIC to help more residents understand their eligibility and how to apply.
“It’s about normalizing the idea that if your income qualifies you, you’re entitled to these benefits—and they exist to help you live a healthy and prosperous life.”
Support the Food Equity Movement in New Hampshire
Ending hunger in New Hampshire will take more than policy change—it calls for a cultural shift in how we talk about food access, equity, and our shared responsibility to care for one another. NHHS is helping lead that shift, advocating for smarter policies, simplifying access to nutrition programs, and building coalitions rooted in compassion and collaboration.
As families across the Granite State continue to face economic uncertainty, NHHS is offering a path forward: one that focuses on dignity, reducing barriers, and ensuring that every child—and every family—has the food they need to thrive.
Hunger is a justice issue, and when we come together to ensure all our neighbors are nourished, we’re investing in a stronger, healthier, and more equitable New Hampshire. Visit New Hampshire Hunger Solutions’ website to explore their work, access resources, take action, and support advocacy efforts.
About Tiffany Brewster
Tiffany Brewster
Policy Development and Advocacy Director, NHHS
Tiffany Brewster is the Policy Development and Advocacy Director at New Hampshire Hunger Solutions, where she builds coalitions and leads efforts to eliminate hunger across the state. A Registered Dietitian and New Hampshire native, Tiffany co-facilitates the NH Food Access Coalition and champions equitable access to nutrition for all, especially those with lived experience. With graduate degrees in Nutrition and Public Health, she’s a published author in peer-reviewed and popular outlets. A military veteran, Tiffany previously served in the NH and Oklahoma Air National Guard. She enjoys cooking and hiking with her fiancé and their very old dog.