JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 A Jacksonville City Council member plans to file legislation to help tackle delays in federal food assistance.<\/p>\n
Councilmember Rahman Johnson held a meeting on Friday to address the disruption in SNAP benefits that is impacting thousands of families locally.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a crisis,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cPeople are hurting, and we\u2019ve got to do something.\u201d<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/a><\/p>\n Earlier this week, the city launched a new community coalition to better target resources for those in need.<\/p>\n But Johnson called Friday\u2019s meeting to determine how to fund that coalition.<\/p>\n They are looking to secure $2 million for emergency food relief until federal stability is restored.<\/p>\n Leaders discussed several different funding options to fill the gap. One of which would be to tap into the city\u2019s reserves.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the easiest one would be to take the funds directly from the reserves,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cI am not a fan of that because we just put money into the reserves.<\/p>\n Another concern brought up at this meeting was access to food pantries throughout the city.<\/p>\n