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United Way intern presents data showing rising food and housing insecurity in Marathon County
Summary
An 8‑week United Way internship project found growing SNAP participation, rising food insecurity, and local housing pressures: Wausau shows the most 211 calls for basic needs; the county needs roughly 586 more affordable units in Wausau alone and 35% of food‑insecure children may be ineligible for SNAP after recent eligibility cuts.
Ariel Nelson, an intern with United Way of Marathon County, presented an 8‑week research project linking housing status and food access. Using the 2026 Marathon County Life Report and local data, Nelson said SNAP/FoodShare participation has risen in the county and that recent federal eligibility changes (effective July 1) remove certain groups — including some refugees and survivors who previously qualified — from SNAP access.
Nelson detailed school‑district and municipal disparities: Abbotsford cited nearly 80% of students on free/reduced lunch, Wausau about 56.7%, and Athens nearly 40%. She said a screenshot of USDA low‑access mapping showed urban pockets in Wausau classified as food deserts by the tool. She reported local 211 call volumes for food and housing from June 2025 to June 2026 were highest in Wausau, Mosinee, Schofield/Weston, Rothschild and Stratford, with Wausau far outpacing others.
On housing, Nelson cited a North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission estimate that Wausau needs about 586 additional affordable units and said 42% of renters in the county face unaffordable housing costs. Her survey of more than 150 Marathon County respondents found about 30% in Wausau reported struggles with both food and housing. She recommended targeted outreach to underrepresented rural communities, people aged 25–44 and communities of color, and asked county leaders to invest in community organizations to sustain outreach and services.
Committee members thanked Nelson and United Way for the analysis and were invited to support local events and the organization's outreach work; supervisors raised concerns about federal funding cuts and urged advocacy through the Wisconsin Counties Association for restored SNAP support.
