AUSTIN, Texas — The federal government must continue to fund the nation’s biggest food aid program during the government shutdown. That is the ruling issued by two federal judges Friday afternoon.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP serves about one in eight Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. The court action came as Central Texas prepared for the worst.
“It is scary right now,” said Chris King, Executive Director of the Baptist Community Center Mission.
Demand is higher than ever for the canned goods on the shelves of an East Austin food pantry. Surging grocery prices, the government shutdown, and the threat of a pause in SNAP benefits has some recipients worried they will not be able to feed themselves or their families.
“For our food line on Friday we’ve seen those numbers grow from about 80 people or families to where today we had 140 families come through in just about three hours,” said King.
“It is scary right now,” said Chris King, Executive Director of the Baptist Community Center Mission. Demand is higher than ever for the canned goods on the shelves of an East Austin food pantry. Surging grocery prices, the government shutdown, and the threat of a pause in SNAP benefits has some recipients worried they will not be able to feed themselves or their families. (Photo: Bettie Cross){p}{/p}
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Before Friday afternoon’s court rulings, Austin and Travis County leaders shared information about available resources if SNAP benefits are delayed to almost 45,000 households in Travis County.
“Missed paychecks and not being able to afford your weekly groceries do not just hurt a few people. These losses hurt kids, families, and communities. It also places additional pressure on local governments and nonprofits already struggling from losing federal funds earlier this year,” said Austin Mayor Kirk Watson.
Food insecurity is at a ten year high according to the Central Texas Food Bank.
To help, 50 food distributions are scheduled for November.
“We have already been spending $1.3 million per month to purchase food and we just invested $2 million in an initial purchase from our reserves to continue serving at a higher level,” said Sari Watske, President and Chief Executive Officer or the Central Texas Food Bank.
The big question is how quickly the SNAP debit cards that are used to buy groceries can be reloaded. A federal judge has given the U.S. Department of Agriculture until Monday to decide how it will distribute delayed benefits to 42-million low-income participants. The funds were scheduled to be loaded onto SNAP cards November 1.
The Central Texas Food Bank is hosting a special food distribution event on Tuesday, November 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Nelson Field in Northeast Austin.