State government officials say if the shutdown continues through November 1, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program would run out of money to pay for benefits.
“My hope is that either the federal government will find a way to fund SNAP, which I think there is an argument they can, even with the government shut down, or the government will reopen,” Gov. Andy Beshear said during a press conference last week.
Beshear said at least 100 million dollars worth of SNAP funding would be lost if the shutdown continues. For those on benefits, food banks often shoulder the remaining load.
Michael Halligan is the CEO of God’s Pantry Food Bank, which operates in central and eastern Kentucky. He says as their emergency food reserves dwindle, demand for food will outpace what they carry.
“The looming crisis in front of us is, how fast will our inventories decline, and what will we be able to do to replenish those stocks of food more rapidly, so that we can continue to provide the service that folks who are experiencing hunger need,” Halligan said.
God’s Pantry serves central and eastern Kentucky, which covers around 250,000 people on SNAP benefits.
With thousands of federal workers and contractors missing paychecks because of the shutdown, Halligan says food banks are already seeing increased demand.
“We are starting to get phone calls from federal government workers about, ‘How do I access food? How do I get the food that I need for my family to be able to put food on the table so that my kids can thrive?’” Halligan said.
Stricter work requirements to SNAP also go into effect next month, passed earlier this year as part of Congress’ budget reconciliation bill. It would require more people to log the hours they’re working, volunteering or in school to be eligible for food stamps. That now includes heads of households aged 55 to 64, or with children aged 14 to 18.
“We are seeing increases from federal workers who are working, or without pay, we are potentially seeing increases for SNAP benefits not being funded in November, and we are seeing increases in November, more than likely, due to changes in work requirements,” Halligan said. “And all of those things are hitting at the same time.”
Halligan estimated it would take an extra $250,000 for every month the government is shut down for God’s Pantry to distribute food at its normal level.
God’s Pantry is making an effort to reach out to both food distributors and donors in order to make up the difference. They’re currently asking for both donors and volunteers.
