Shreveport-Bossier Families Could Be Most Affected if SNAP Benefits Are Delayed

Thousands of residents around the Shreveport area are worried about what will happen if SNAP benefits are cut. But Governor Jeff Landry says those who are disabled, elderly and those with children will still be getting help.

Managers of several local food pantries have reached out to KEEL News to let residents know it is best to call ahead before just showing up to try to get food assistance.

In Louisiana, there are 53,000 able-bodied adults who will not be getting benefits for November.

How Many People in Shreveport and Bossier City Rely on SNAP

According to the Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), as of August 2025, there are:

Caddo Parish: about 51,800 recipients of SNAP benefits. That’s roughly one in four residents, making it one of the highest participation rates in Northwest Louisiana.

Bossier Parish: about 15,900 people receiving SNAP benefits, or approximately 12% of the parish’s population.

In total, more than 67,000 people across the Shreveport-Bossier area rely on these benefits each month to help purchase groceries and basic necessities.

Louisiana SNAP Participation by the Numbers

Across the state, 792,769 Louisianans in 396,157 households receive SNAP, according to DCFS’s most recent data (September 2025). That’s around 18% of the state’s population.

The top ten parishes for total SNAP recipients are:

East Baton Rouge Parish – 80,321

Orleans Parish – 77,315

Jefferson Parish – 64,513

Caddo Parish – 52,035

Lafayette Parish – 40,200

Calcasieu Parish – 33,552

Ouachita Parish – 34,878

Rapides Parish – 24,777

St. Landry Parish – 23,852

Bossier Parish – 15,891

READ MORE: How to get help from the Food Bank

What Happens If Benefits Are Delayed

SNAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture but administered through each state. That means any federal delay can ripple down quickly to families in Northwest Louisiana.