Food Assistance and Community Resources

The City of Phoenix is committed to helping residents connect with food assistance and nutrition resources. If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, there are programs and community partners available to help ensure access to healthy and affordable food options.

Please note: The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily suspended the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits beginning November 2025. This federal decision may cause delays or interruptions in benefit distribution for Arizona households.

Phoenix Residents who are SNAP Participants

While the City of Phoenix does not issue or manage SNAP benefits, the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) continues to accept and process new SNAP applications. Residents are encouraged to apply or check their eligibility to ensure benefits resume as quickly as possible once distribution restarts.

To apply for, manage, and stay informed about SNAP benefits, visit:

Arizona Department of Economic Security – Nutrition Assistance

Double  Up Arizona

If you use SNAP, you’re automatically eligible for Double Up Arizona. For every $1 you spend with your SNAP/EBT card at a participating location, you receive $1 free to spend on fresh Arizona-grown fruits and vegetables (including dried beans and food-producing plants/seeds).

To learn more, visit:  Double Up Arizona

Senior Center Meals and Membership Opportunities

Phoenix Senior Centers offer daily meals that provide nutrition, social connection, and community engagement for adults.

• Membership Benefits: Becoming a Senior Center member helps you enjoy meals, classes, fitness programs, and activities throughout the year.
• Meals: Available to Senior Center members, lunch is served every day in a friendly, community setting. Meals are designed to be healthy, affordable, and enjoyable with others. Contact your nearest Senior Center for lunch service times.
• Meal Times:  Meals are served during business hours, Monday - Friday.

Important: Meal times vary by location, so residents should contact their nearest or preferred Senior Center to confirm the exact lunch schedule.

• Meal Prices:
  • Members 60+ or disabled: Meals are contribution-based (suggested minimum $2.50).
  • Members 18–59: Meals cost $5 each.

Cooking and Nutrition Resources

Learn how to prepare healthy, affordable meals and stretch your grocery budget with these free resources.

• MyPlate.gov – Healthy eating tips and recipes
• St. Mary’s Food Bank Classes – Cooking on a Budget
• Maricopa County WIC (Women, Infants & Children Program) - Provides healthy foods, nutrition education, and support for pregnant women, infants, and children under 5.
• Phoenix Resilient Food Systems Initiative - Improves food access and supports local food programs through ARPA-funded community projects   

How to Use All Your Food at Home

Small changes at home can make a big difference. By planning meals, storing food properly, and using creative recipes for leftovers, residents can stretch their grocery dollars and make the most of every ingredient. Explore the helpful tools below for tips and ideas.

• Plan and Store Smartly: Learn simple ways to plan meals, shop intentionally, and use what’s already in your fridge and pantry.
• Smart Shopping and Food Use: Discover practical steps and interactive tools for buying, storing, and preparing food efficiently.

Other Helpful Resources

In addition to food assistance, the City of Phoenix and community partners offer a variety of programs to help residents access housing, education, child care, and other essential services.

City of Phoenix Programs

• Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program – Supports residents in achieving economic independence through job training, education, and financial literacy
• Home Repair and Rehabilitation Programs – Provides assistance for eligible residents to repair or maintain safe, livable homes

• Crisis Assistance and Social Services – Offers case management and emergency support for households in crisis
• Eviction Legal Services – Provides legal aid and support to help residents facing eviction
• Landlord and Tenant Program – Offers education, mediation, and assistance for tenants and landlords to resolve housing concerns
• Head Start Birth to Five Program – Provides early childhood education, nutrition, and family support services for children from birth to age five
• Food Backpack Program at the Harmon Library - Food backpacks for families for households with children ages 5-18

Community Partners

• 211 Arizona – Connects residents to local food pantries, meal sites, and community resources
• View other Community Resources

Food System Planning & Community Engagement

The City of Phoenix is actively working to strengthen our local food system so that all residents have access to healthy, affordable, and culturally relevant food. A key tool for this is the Phoenix Food Action Plan.

• The Plan is being updated for 2030, and its development includes broad engagement of residents, nonprofits, and businesses across the City.
• You can participate in shaping the future of food access in Phoenix by taking the community food survey.
• The Plan outlines five strategic goals — such as improving food access, boosting local food production and strengthening resilience — with ongoing actions that already have measurable progress.

Learn more or get involved:

Phoenix Food Action Plan

Frequently Asked Questions