Important Changes to SNAP Benefits and Community Resources to Help
As of October 20, eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) was officially removed for refugees and those seeking asylum in Nebraska. This significant policy change has reportedly cut off nearly 7,000 refugees in Nebraska who relied on these SNAP benefits to feed their families. The nonprofit community anticipates that food pantries will likely be overwhelmed as they try to meet this additional demand, putting immense pressure on existing resources. If you are in the country on a work visa or a green card, please note that you are still eligible for SNAP. If you or your family have lost access to benefits, immediate food, crisis, and resource assistance is available now.
Below is a comprehensive list of resources, hotlines, and referral systems available to Nebraskans.
General Information and Referral Services
The United Way 211 service is a centralized resource dedicated to connecting people with local human and social service information. If you need help finding any resource, 211 is a key starting point.
• Call: You can dial 2-1-1 from any phone to speak directly with a live specialist.
• Text: Send your ZIP code to 898211 to connect via text message.
• Online/App: Visit https://ne211.org for search options, a database, chat functions, and other online resources. You can also download the 211 Nebraska/SW Iowa App from the Apple and Android app stores.
Nebraska Resource and Referral System (https://nrrs.ne.gov/) and https://www.findhelp.org/
My Lnk App (https://mylnk.app ) provides a free, one-stop guide of local resources.
Food Assistance
Food bank distribution sites are listed at www.foodbankheartland.org.
Food Bank for the Heartland: Find specific food resources using the finder at https://foodbankheartland.org/food-resources/find-food/.
Lincoln Food Bank: Access their Food Finder tool at https://www.lincolnfoodbank.org/get-food/food-finder/.
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Information about this program is available at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Commodity-Supplemental-Food-Program.aspx
Crisis and Safety Hotlines
Suicide Prevention: Call 988.
Child/Adult Abuse Hotline: Call 1-800-652-1999.
Domestic Violence: Call 800-799-7233.
Nebraska Family Helpline: Call 1-888-866-8660.
Specialized and Government Resources
For those seeking mental health access information, visit https://portal.networkofcare.org/NebraskaBehavioralHealth.
The Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) can be reached at 1-844-843-6364.
Resources and support connecting Nebraskans with special needs are available at https://www.answers4families.org/.
For immigration inquiries, contact the US Citizenship and Immigration Center at 1-800-375-5283.
General DHHS Community Resources can be found at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Community-Resources.aspx.
Information on the Community Service Block Grant is located at https://dhhs.ne.gov/Pages/Community-Servcie-Block-Grant.aspx.
For residents in the Panhandle region, consult the Western Nebraska Resource Guide provided by Panhandle Partnership: https://panhandlepartnership.com/what-we-do/western-nebraska-resource-guide.html.
