Concord, NH – Food insecurity in New Hampshire is once again on the rise, with more than 42,000 households struggling to afford enough to eat. A recent analysis from the New Hampshire Fiscal Policy Institute (NHFPI) warns that recently passed federal changes could further erode food assistance, leaving as many as 4,000 Granite Staters at risk of losing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.

This issue is the focus of the latest episode of New Hampshire Uncharted, NHFPI’s podcast exploring the challenges and opportunities facing the state. Season 1, Episode 5: Confronting Hunger in the Granite State features host Gene Martin in conversation with three leaders on the frontlines of fighting hunger:

• Laura Milliken, Executive Director, New Hampshire Hunger Solutions
• Elsy Cipriani, Executive Director, New Hampshire Food Bank
• Kyle Repucci, Principal, Broken Ground School in Concord

“Food insecurity is not having reliable access to a sufficient quantity of nutritious food,” explained Milliken. “One parent described to me ‘open-faced meals’ – eating sandwiches with one piece of bread to make it last. Another said she would wait until her children had eaten and then eat the leftovers from their plates.”

The episode explores how rising costs of housing, childcare, health care, and food are straining families, while food banks and schools struggle to keep up with demand. Cipriani noted that agencies across the state have seen a 12 percent increase in need over the past year, even as funding sources decline. Repucci described how hunger directly affects student learning and shared how his school’s “second-chance breakfast” helps reduce stigma and ensure children are fed.

The discussion also delves into why SNAP and WIC remain underutilized in New Hampshire, how rural communities face unique barriers, and what gives hope for progress.

“Food is just part of the puzzle,” Cipriani said. “We need affordable housing, health care, and more. Seeing people more open to working together gives me hope.”

Listen to the episode and read the show notes here. 

New Hampshire Uncharted is produced in partnership with the Granite State News Collaborative and with the Marlin Fitzwater Center for Communication at Franklin Pierce University. The podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music/Audible, Spotify, YouTube, iHeart Radio, Podbean, Player FM, Podchaser, Listen Notes, and more. You can find all New Hampshire Uncharted episodes at www.nhfpi.org/podcast.

To request a full transcript of this episode, please contact hshulman@nhfpi.org.

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