With the government shutdown continuing, millions of Americans are left wondering what will happen to their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Unless Congress acts by November 1, SNAP funding will be exhausted. This will bring increased relief to an estimated 42 million, including 16 million children. Second, the prospect of an actual lapse in federal funding is deeply alarming. Children face hunger and families can’t make ends meet.
The Department of Agriculture has warned that benefits may be interrupted after a shutdown drags on. These disastrous circumstances, unfortunately, led to local movements to protect the communities facing the approaching and ongoing disaster. In Barstow, California, the local police department has allegedly doubled patrols of grocery stores and shopping centers. They want to make sure that when anxiety about food access increases, they are keeping their residents, customers, and business owners safe.
Martina Santos, a 67-year-old woman from the Bronx, New York, relies on SNAP to feed herself and manage her household expenses. In practice, she now gets only around $290 a month in benefits. She worries that without this assistance, she won’t be able to afford her other bills, like electricity and internet service.
“I’m going to be waiting to pay my electricity bill and also my internet bill,” – Martina Santos.
Similarly, Jenna, a 37-year-old mother of four from Oklahoma, faces challenges balancing her full-time job with the needs of her children, two of whom have disabilities. Jenna tells us how scared she was to reach out to her family, not wanting to place more stress on them in their time of need.
“I have four kids. I don’t want to ask for help [from] my family. They have their own family. They got their own bills,” – Jenna.
Those economic pressures have put many families including Jenna’s in the position of having to choose between food and other essentials. Claire Babineaux-Fontenot of Feeding America provides great context for the bigger picture impact that a SNAP funding freeze would have.
“Families everywhere are on the brink of, or have already been forced to make, impossible choices between food and other necessities like housing and health care,” – Claire Babineaux-Fontenot.
The community has long been under siege by a variety of emergencies. In reply, some local retailers are taking preemptive measures to guard against predictable pilferage stemming from increased economic pressure. A Dollar General in downtown Columbus boarded up their windows and doors. Days before the change went into effect on October 28, they pulled the boards. The reality is a dramatic increase in fears over food security and safety during this now prolonged government shutdown.
In response to community concerns about their decision to increase patrols, Barstow Police Department officials have provided an alternative explanation. They explained that their intention was to provide comfort and encouragement in a difficult moment. Police Chief Christopher Kirby said it showed the department’s dedication to protecting those who live and work there.
“The intent was to let the community know that we were aware of what was going on, and it was our plan to be out there protecting the community,” – Christopher Kirby.
Police presence outside grocery stores hasn’t been welcomed by all. Users are commenting on the police department’s post on Facebook. Public health advocates and criminal justice reformers are among them, arguing that resources should go toward meeting the needs of food assistance rather than increasing policing.
“You should have food baskets ready to hand out; the people would appreciate that and feel like the police are with them instead of against,” – Facebook user.
“You could be handing out food but you’re going to make sure the Most Vulnerable People don’t steal. Great message,” – Facebook user.
Surrogate testimony from Leslie Sarasin, president of the Food Industry Alliance, underlined the value of safety provisions that retailers plan to implement. For her, nothing beats urgent federal action to realize long-term solutions.
“Retailers will take steps they deem necessary to maintain safety in their stores; however, the real solution needed lies in swift federal action: Congress must act quickly to end the shutdown and restore stability for millions of households,” – Leslie Sarasin.
The implications of a potential SNAP cutoff extend beyond immediate hunger. They affect entire families who rely on these benefits for sustenance. Martina Santos shared the very real fear of losing SNAP benefits to her community. She fears it will cut her ability to give her family healthy choices.
“I’m going to have hungry kids that are used to getting their berries and their cheese, their yogurt, their healthy snacks, and I’m not going to have the extra for them to snack plus eat breakfast, lunch and dinner,” – Martina Santos.
These combined impacts from a government shutdown and the possible suspension of SNAP benefits would be catastrophic. Many low-income families nationwide—which were already struggling—are encountering terrifying obstacles. As November approaches, families are left anxiously awaiting news from Congress while local communities seek to address rising food insecurity through various means.
