Food Stamp Interruption Response

Friends,

I’m aware that a temporary opening of the government was just announced, but we still do not know  whether (or when) federal food and housing assistance will be restored. Please pay careful attention to your local news for updates and plan accordingly.

Due to the government shutdown, the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP, otherwise known as “food stamps”) has been interrupted. As of this time there will be no March distribution of food assistance.

Households who participate in SNAP received their February disbursement in mid-January, with instructions to ration their food stamps carefully until further notice. Several public service announcements have gone out advising families to get food from the food pantries first before using their food stamps so that they don't run out. In addition, HUD or Section 8 housing vouchers expect a similar interruption, and families who use earned income to supplement their food assistance may find themselves choosing between going without food or facing eviction.  Schools across the nation are preparing for an interruption of federal funds for the Free and Reduced School Lunch Program. While some districts have reserves to operate the program in the meantime, others do not.

Until we hear definitively that the food assistance disbursements have resumed, this should be treated seriously as an impending local hunger crisis.

If you are not sure to what extent your community may be affected by this situation, ask your local school district how many families qualify for free student lunch. This number tells you how many families receive Food Stamps. In Mason City, Iowa, 42% of our students qualify for the free lunch  program, and an additional 8% qualify for the reduced lunch program--nearly 2,000 students and their families may be impacted, in addition to lower-income seniors, people with disabilities, or lower-income families whose children are not yet in school.

The following link/ attachment is a Congregational Response Guide I have prepared for the Iowa Faith Leadership Network, designed to help you and your congregation understand the scope of the problem and giving several practical options for how your congregation can help.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/154PYEJrFE0SoVZ_cqY6w7X-k8EdsNvoqfQa12Zi7P3U/edit?usp=sharing