SNAP and Medicaid cuts affect Ukrainian families in Omaha
By Sydney Babb, WOWT
(January 27, 2026)
Nearly 1,000 Ukrainians living in Omaha with temporary protected status are facing financial complications after losing SNAP benefits, with Medicaid cuts potentially next.
Refugees and individuals granted asylum are no longer eligible for SNAP benefits because of federal changes last summer. Amanda Hall with Orel Alliance said her clients are at risk of losing even more benefits.
“Our concerns really are that we keep folks housed, fed, and with a legal status,” said Hall, executive director of Orel Alliance.
Hall serves Ukrainian families in Omaha. One client, who chose to remain anonymous to protect her family, came to the U.S. under humanitarian parole with temporary protected status.
“When it started - the war in Ukraine - we came here in America,” the woman said through a translator.
The woman is taking English classes at Metropolitan Community College. She, her husband and their four children are facing new complications after losing benefits.
“All of our folks who will no longer be eligible for Medicaid will know that, and no longer received SNAP benefits as of April,” Hall said.
After federal changes last summer, refugees and other lawfully residing non-citizens are not eligible for SNAP or Medicaid. The Ukrainian woman said her family has already lost their benefits.
“Sometimes the kids ask for things that I have to explain, temporarily, we can’t afford this,” she said.
Some of Orel’s families are elderly and disabled. They rely on SNAP and Medicaid to survive. The Ukrainian woman said her family is making sacrifices to stay in the U.S.
“The most important thing is that we feel safe here. We’ve come from a warzone, and we can cope with eating more simply, with reduction of SNAP. We’ll just have to learn to eat more simply,” she said.
The cuts have left overburdened food pantries in Omaha with more people to support.
“That also means that there are fewer resources available for Americans. We’re all going to be competing for the same amount of resources, and now there’s more competition because we’ve cut off SNAP access,” Hall said.
Local food pantries have been seeing more people with temporary protected status or refugees since SNAP benefits were paused for everyone in October. Food pantries said they don’t see an end to the spike in people needing extra help feeding their families going into this year.
