Media Coverage

Tucked inside the signature legislation of President Trump and the 119th Congress is a time bomb scheduled to explode in 2027. When it does, it could have a crippling impact on a 60-year-old program that millions of people here and around the country depend on for basic nutrition and sustenance.

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is a key link in the safety net that keeps people from being consumed by poverty, hunger and illness. It also supports local farmers, businesses and economies. Once known as “food stamps,” SNAP is the nation’s largest food assistance program, counted on by 42 million Americans, including more than 100,000 in Hamilton County.

What happens to Americans who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program as the federal government shutdown continues?

The future of SNAP -- which provides food assistance to about 41.7 million people, or nearly one in eight Americans -- is uncertain if Congress does not reach a budget agreement soon. On Oct. 10, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which administers the program, instructed state agencies not to prepare for November payments. In some states, new applications are already being halted.

Food banks are open as usual during this federal government shutdown, as concerns are rising for what might happen with benefits if the situation drags on.

"We've very rarely seen long-term shutdowns that have led to actual impacts on public benefit access," said Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks.

Novotny said that means for October, those receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or the Women, Infants and Children food program should have no concerns.

But if the shutdown goes beyond this month, "then there will be different scenarios to take into consideration" when it comes to SNAP or WIC.

From federal workers facing layoffs to delays in vital services, millions of Americans could be affected.

The uncertainty is making many worry, especially federal employees. One of the industries that could be affected by a shutdown is food banks.

Joree Novotny, executive director of the Ohio Association of Food Banks, said it would depend how long the shutdown would last. She said if it lasts for a few days or weeks, we may not see any major disruptions in access to public benefits or services.

“But after a little bit of time, if the shutdown does continue, that’s when we would see a real impact first on federal employees and contractors and other folks that are directly paid by the federal government also some potential impacts on staffing that supports access to other programs, but for the immediate, we’re not hugely concerned on access to hunger relief or access to food because of the shutdown,” said Novotny.

Novotny said the last government shutdown was in 2018. She believes it lasted about 35 days. She said they had some issues with people using public benefits like SNAP which caused a lot of uncertainty.

Novotny also said that their main concern is the uncertainty. She said people already have a hard time meeting their basic needs and stretching their incomes far enough to pay their bills and put food on the table.

She said adding another uncertainty in the mix is tough and can be concerning for those wondering what’s coming. But they’re working closely with their partners at the state agencies to communicate transparently with Ohioans who could be impacted by the delays and interruptions.

Other initiatives touted by the HCP include the 2024 Food Securities Summit, which brought voices from across the Valley to talk about strengthening the food system in the region.

The Healthy Food Action team launched a SNAP Advocacy working group to gather the concerns of those impacted by reduced federal SNAP benefits and share them with the Ohio Association of Foodbanks to inform the broader discussion.

The Healthy Food Action team also supported the efforts of Choffin Career & Technical Center to develop a school food hub.

Ohio and Michigan food banks are joining forces with Kroger in Two States, One Plate, a community meal-packing event that will yield 25,000 meal kits for families in need.

“Half of the kits will remain in Ohio for distribution, and the other half will go to Michigan for distribution,” a Kroger spokesman said. “All will go to Feeding America food bank partners.”

Kroger’s Ohio and Michigan divisions are working with the Food Bank Council of Michigan and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, both part of the Feeding America network.

Volunteers are needed for the packing event at Fifth Third Field on Tuesday. People can choose one, two, or all three shifts to pack the meal kits full of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.

The shifts are 10 a.m. to noon, noon to 2 p.m., and 2 to 4 p.m. Sign-ups are available at bit.ly/3KcYYAy.