For many Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) participants, receiving food assistance now depends on meeting documentation deadlines, fulfilling new work or volunteer requirements, or qualifying for an exemption. A year after implementing H.R.1, SNAP enrollment has dropped by more than 13% over the past 12 months.The law requires most individuals previously exempt to work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month, or complete specific training and education programs, to

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, affordability is dominating the conversation. Across the political spectrum, voters are keeping the cost of living top of mind as they head to the polls.  Rising costs for housing, groceries, transportation, healthcare, and other essentials have made everyday life increasingly unaffordable. Polling by The Guardian shows widespread economic pessimism, with many Americans naming living expenses as one of the country’s most important issues.For voters,

On September 15, 2026, the Bridges to Resolution Summit took place at the Robert S. Strauss Building in Washington, D.C., hosted by Syracuse University and sponsored by The Heinz Endowments, Northwestern University, and the D’Aniello Institute for Veterans and Military Families. It brought together state Medicaid directors, healthcare executives, public human services leaders, and researchers around one central question: how do we move social care networks beyond software platforms and

For health and human service (HHS) organizations, a referral is more than a handoff; it is a critical opportunity to move a client from crisis to stability. However, the fragmented nature of our current systems often forces vulnerable individuals to act as “system integrators,” navigating a fractured landscape alone. When these connections fail, the consequences are documented: poorer health outcomes, increased family stress, and diminished mental well-being.To address these gaps,

Bridges to Resolution highlighted that even a well-designed HHS Referral Network can become a “Bridge to Nowhere,” a system that screens for needs but can’t actually deliver on them. That risk exists because of the gap between social need and healthcare service delivery. The two areas are deeply intertwined, yet the agencies that provide health and human services operate as a fragmented system.As millions of Americans struggle to meet basic

Editor’s Note: The following conversation brings together perspectives from four community hub thought leaders. Responses have been edited for clarity and length and organized by topic rather than presented as separate interviews. Where multiple interviewees responded to the same question, their perspectives are presented together to highlight both shared insights and differing experiences.Community care hubs and health and human service referral networks are designed to connect organizations that serve the