November 26, 2025
The government shutdown might be over, but some are still dealing with the fallout. Many people were forced to use money they typically spend on rent and utility bills for food. While most now have their November SNAP benefits, they’re trying to get caught up in other areas during the most expensive time of the year.
Tavia Tharrington-Baity is a single mom of five in Philadelphia who says she can’t work due to a disability. She homeschools two of her kids and counts on assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The past few weeks have been challenging.
“It got tough because being a single mom and actually being a disabled single mom, I really had to use what I saved,” Tharrington-Baity said.