JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville councilman will hold a meeting Friday morning at City Hall to address the disruption of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) amid the federal government shutdown.
Councilman Rahman Johnson will convene a publicly noticed meeting at 10 a.m. to address the impact of the suspension of SNAP benefits and explore some possible options to help families in need.
“Food is not a partisan benefit, it is a human right,” said Johnson. “If the federal machinery pauses, cities must decide whether to wait or to lead. This meeting is about dollars, dignity, and decisions: how much funding we can allocate, how quickly we can deploy it, and how we keep people from falling into hunger while governments debate.”
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In a news release, Johnson outlined the meeting goals:
Assess and verify the number of Duval County residents affected by the SNAP delays.
Explore short-term city funding, emergency reserves, and philanthropic/public-private support.
Coordinate with local partners including faith-based organizations, and food distribution networks.
Build a framework for emergency food relief until federal stability is restored.
“Jacksonville will not abandon its people to bureaucracy”, said Johnson. “We will gather, we will plan, and we will act.”
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