LOS ANGELES (KABC) — More people could feel the burden of the government shutdown if it carries on past the weekend, and some 42 million Americans are set to lose food assistance benefits through SNAP.
Inglewood resident Felicia Ortiz relies on food assistance from the federal government to feed her family. Her son also has Type 1 diabetes.
“Having that little bit of assistance to help me buy healthier food for him, make sure he’s eating right has been a burden off my shoulders,” Ortiz said.
But on Saturday, SNAP benefits will no longer be funded because of the government shutdown. Democrats are blaming Republicans and Republicans are blaming Democrats.
Oritz fears the difficult choices ahead that she’ll have to make.
“Now I’m going to have to worry about where our next meal will come from and taking that little bit from paying my rent, from paying my bills and now having to put it into providing a meal for my family,” Ortiz said.
On Tuesday night, while traveling to South Korea, President Donald Trump said his administration would find a solution to fund SNAP, but that solution is unclear.
In Los Angeles County, 1.5 million people rely on SNAP which in California is called CalFresh. The program allows people to access food from food banks and grocery stores. Thanks to CalFresh, $300 million are spent at grocery stores in L.A. County every month.
“Two-thirds are seniors and children. Many are dealing with disabilities, living on (Supplemental Security Income) so these are some of the most vulnerable people in our community,” said Michael Flood, the CEO of the L.A. Regional Food Bank. “This has never happened before in the 60-year history of this program, that benefits have not gone out.”
The L.A. Regional Food Bank says they have a two and a half week food supply right now. L.A. County and the state of California have put in millions of dollars to help in the short term, but if the shutdown continues there will be pain.
“This is a difficult time for a lot of people and especially at this time of the year. Add to that the cost of inflation,” said Gabriela Gomez, with the L.A. County Department of Public Social Services. “There are a lot of people who don’t receive CalFresh benefits, but we will all be impacted.”
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