The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, is the primary public food assistance program in the United States. In North Carolina, specifically 1,415,600 Residents – that is, 1 in 8 people – depend on this benefit to buy food each month.
Of that total, only 157,682 participants identify as Hispanic or Latino , according to data confirmed by the state Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) Enlace Latino NC.
That figure It represents just 11% of all beneficiaries , in line with the proportion of Latino population in the state.
However, two points must be taken into account: first, it is not mandatory to declare ethnicity to receive SNAP; and second, people who do not have a social security number cannot apply for the benefit.
Graphic: Enlace Latino NC.
This data refutes the perception, widespread in some public discourse, that Latino communities receive more social assistance than other groups. In reality, their participation in SNAP is proportional—and in many cases lower—to their demographic presence and poverty rate.
Related: Learn about recent and upcoming changes to SNAP
Higher levels of inequality in poverty in the Latino community
Poverty levels among the Latino population in North Carolina show a persistent gap compared to other racial and ethnic groups. For example, one in five Latino people In North Carolina, he lived in poverty between 2019 and 2023.
This figure was released earlier this year and corresponds to federal standards that in 2023 defined the poverty threshold as an annual income of less than $31,200 for a family of four, according to the analysis. "2025 Economic County Snapshots for North Carolina" from the Budget & Tax Center.
The rate of poverty in the Latino community It far exceeds the state average (13%) and is close to that recorded among African American (20%) and native (24%) communities.
These disparities help to understand why, despite representing 11% of SNAP beneficiaries, the Latino population faces much higher levels of poverty and food insecurity than those reflected in official records.
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Latinos with SNAP nationwide
Nationally, Latino households represent 22% of all households participating in SNAP , according to the most recent report of Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP).
On average, that equates to more than 9 million Latinos who receive this food aid every month in the United States.
The same analysis shows that food insecurity rates remain higher among African American and Latino communities than among white households.
According to Department of Agriculture (USDA)In 2022, food insecurity affected 20.8% of Hispanic households and 22.4% of African American households, compared to 8.2% of non-Hispanic white households.
In the case of severe food insecurity —when families have to reduce portions or skip meals—, the gap is also considerable: 6.5% of Hispanic households versus 2.7% of white households.
Access to SNAP helps reduce these inequalities. Among households participating in the program, food insecurity decreases by up to 10 percentage points, with the most significant improvements among African American and Latino families with children.
In North Carolina, however, the proportion of Latino beneficiaries (11%) remains below the national average, despite the higher poverty rates in this community.
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After the storm
A year ago, Hurricane Helene struck western North Carolina. The Latino community responded with something stronger than the storm: solidarity.
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