TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV\/Gray Florida Capital Bureau) – The longest government shutdown in U.S. history has left nearly 3 million Florida families without their November SNAP benefits, raising concerns about food insecurity across the state.<\/p>\n
About one in eight people across Florida rely on food assistance to feed their families. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stopped funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on November 1 because of the government shutdown.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t have money. I don\u2019t have income. My mom is disabled. So I received food stamps for my food,\u201d said Rae Bustamonte, who receives SNAP benefits and still hasn\u2019t gotten his November assistance.<\/p>\n
Bustamonte said he searches for food daily at different locations while waiting for benefits to resume.<\/p>\n
Two federal judges ruled last week that the government was required to keep the program running, even partially. However, funding remains suspended as the shutdown continues into its 37th day.<\/p>\n
Former state senator Linda Stewart, who helps people in the Orlando area find food, said families face critical challenges accessing assistance.<\/p>\n
\u201cEven though it is a necessity, there\u2019s only so much money in the house that you can spend because you\u2019re not making enough. You got to be able to have a roof over your head, too,\u201d Stewart said.<\/p>\n
Stewart said many families struggle to reach food pantries because they rely on public transportation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s hours and hours of time just to get food on the table that, before, they were able to go to their closest market and use SNAP. Now they can\u2019t do that. They got to go to wherever the food is,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Democrats in the state legislature are urging Governor Ron DeSantis to issue an emergency order to unlock state resources to help families facing food insecurity during the shutdown. DeSantis has dismissed those concerns, saying Democrats in Congress could solve the problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny U.S. Senator that\u2019s concerned about what could happen with those programs have an easy solution. They could just simply vote to continue the programs to continue funding it,\u201d DeSantis said during a news conference on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Florida Department of Children and Families says families will still receive their November benefits when the federal government reopens.<\/p>\n
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