By Brittany Williams / For The Herald
In Snohomish County, we believe in communities where everyone — regardless of income or background — can live with dignity; where children go to bed with full stomachs, seniors receive the care they need and every family has a fair shot at stability.
At United Way of Snohomish County, we’ve worked alongside our community for 85 years to help families meet their basic needs and build stronger, more resilient futures through changing systems. But that future is at risk.
A bill currently under debate in the Senate and passed by the House — H.R. 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill Act” — would slash funding for programs that help families avoid hunger, stay healthy and stay housed. These cuts threaten the health, safety and well-being of our neighbors, our coworkers and even our own families.
This isn’t just a policy debate. It’s about real people and real consequences. H.R. 1 doesn’t meaningfully reduce the national deficit; but it would take food from children, prescriptions from seniors and tax credits from working families.
In the Second Congressional District, it would affect:
• 179,000 residents who rely on Medicaid for their health care;
• 13,792 households with children who receive food support through SNAP, helping to ensure healthy meals every day;
• 113,700 working families who depend on the Child or Earned Income Tax Credits to help cover child care, school supplies and transportation.
These are not handouts. They are lifelines. They keep families afloat through job losses, health crises and rising living costs. They are investments in stability, dignity and the future of our communities.
When families have access to SNAP, children can focus in school instead of worrying about their next meal. When Medicaid covers essential medications and hospital visits, seniors can age with dignity and working adults can stay on the job. When tax credits help cover child care, transportation or school supplies, parents are better equipped to support their families.
We see the impact of these programs every day:
A mother in Monroe who used the Earned Income Tax Credit to fix her car so she could keep her job.
A senior in Lynnwood who relies on Medicaid to afford her insulin.
A child in Darrington who gets three nutritious meals a day thanks to SNAP.
These aren’t just stories; they are the backbone of a healthy, compassionate society.
According to our most recent ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) data, more than 1.1 million Washington families — 38 percent of households — can’t afford basic needs despite working hard, many right here in our own community. Programs like SNAP and Medicaid don’t just help them survive, they help them stay stable and move forward.
If H.R. 1 passes, we will see more families falling through the cracks. More calls to 211 for emergency food, housing and health care. More working parents forced to choose between groceries and gas. More children going hungry. All while community nonprofits are already stretched to the limit.
This isn’t a partisan issue, it’s a moral one. We should be lifting people up, not pulling the rug out from under them.
Congress can — and must — do better. We urge our members of Congress to reject H.R. 1 and instead work toward policies that reflect our shared values of equity, compassion and opportunity.
If you’re reading this and wondering what you can do, here’s a simple but powerful step: Contact your members of Congress. Let them know you care. Tell them:
“I’m deeply concerned about the impact of H.R. 1 on my community. These cuts are too deep, too fast and too dangerous. We need solutions that support — not punish — working families, children and seniors.”
You can find your representative at: www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member
At United Way of Snohomish County, we’ll continue advocating for policies that promote health, education and financial stability; because when one family thrives, our whole community grows stronger.
Please join us. Together, we can protect what works and ensure Snohomish County remains a place where everyone has the chance to succeed.
Brittany Williams joined United Way of Snohomish County in 2022 and has served as executive director since 2024. She holds a master’s degree in public relations from the University of Denver and is an advocate for early education and financial literacy. For nearly 85 years, United Way of Snohomish County has brought people, resources and strategy together to tackle the community’s toughest challenges, focusing on measurable, lasting change.
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