The proposed deal to reopen the federal government would fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, through next September.<\/p>\n
Some Texans began receiving partial SNAP benefits for the first time on Monday, after funding was paused this month due to the shutdown.<\/p>\n
NBC 5 spoke with residents in North Texas who said they are still living in uncertainty, waiting for their benefits and wondering if the partial amount will be enough to get by.<\/p>\n
At a South Dallas shopping center, a line stretched down the sidewalk as families and neighbors waited for a hot meal.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re feeding the community today,\u201d said Mary Dudley, owner of Mary\u2019s Twisted Kitchen. \u201cAnd we said we\u2019re going to do 100 plates, but I\u2019m sure it\u2019s way over 100.\u201d<\/p>\n
Dudley said that during the last 41 days of the government shutdown, she\u2019s seen an increase in hunger in the neighborhoods near her Redbird Lane restaurant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of people struggling right now, a lot of people,\u201d said Dallas resident Brian Grate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt looks bad, and I\u2019m going to do whatever I can to help the community,\u201d Dudley added.<\/p>\n
Aside from federal workers whose paychecks have been paused during the shutdown, the SNAP food benefits stoppage has hit many North Texas families hard.<\/p>\n
More than 42 million Americans rely on SNAP assistance to access healthy food, but the U.S. Department of Agriculture paused payments on Nov. 1 due to the shutdown.<\/p>\n
Dallas resident Chyeminae Williams said her family relies on SNAP.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been kind of stressful,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWith two kids, trying to put food in the house, trying to make sure they\u2019re fed.\u201d<\/p>\n
An end could be in sight. On Sunday night, the U.S. Senate took the first step toward a deal to end the shutdown.<\/p>\n