September 4, 2026
The Honorable Maura Healey
Governor of Massachusetts
Massachusetts State House
24 Beacon St., Office of the Governor, Room 280
Boston, MA 02133
Dear Governor Healey,
Thank you for sharing our concerns about addressing hunger in Massachusetts, and for working
to make sure SNAP is accessible for all residents with low incomes. We are writing in response
to your Administration’s statements to the Anti-Hunger Task Force on August 28th and your
comments at the September 3 Worcester Together meeting regarding a supplemental budget
providing $26M for DTA’s workforce.
While we are appreciative of the administration’s efforts to address this issue, it is important to
be clear that $26M in a supplemental budget (which will bring total funding to H.2’s proposal of
$148M) only pays for the existing cap on the number of DTA caseworkers. A $26M proposal
would avoid layoffs. But, it is not an investment in the workforce, and it does not allow DTA to
hire any net-new caseworkers.
DTA staff are working extremely hard in very difficult circumstances to connect eligible residents
to SNAP. However, to meaningfully improve access to this critical program, additional workers
are critically needed.
We urge you to include $56 million to allow DTA to hire additional caseworkers. Not investing
will mean eligible families will continue to lose SNAP, endangering health, well-being, and
economic stability for children and families across Massachusetts. Advocates are committed to
doing additional outreach to the legislature to help ensure passage of funding that allows DTA to
hire above the current cap.
Sincerely,
Boston Food Access Council
Center on Food Equity
Children’s HealthWatch
The Greater Boston Food Bank
Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center
Massachusetts Food System Collaborative
Mass General Brigham
Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Merrimack Valley Food Bank

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MetroWest Food Collaborative
Neighborhood Food Action Collaborative (NFAC)
Progressive Massachusetts
Project Bread
SEIU Local 509
Springfield Food Policy Council
Worcester County Food Bank

Cc:
Speaker Ron Mariano
Chair Aaron Michlewitz
Senate President Karen Spilka
Chair Michael Rodrigues
Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll
Dr. Kiame Mahaniah, EOHHS Secretary
Michael Cole, DTA Commissioner