Introduction to the Crisis
In a move that advocates call potentially “catastrophic,” President Donald Trump’s administration plans to withhold food stamp funding if the federal government shutdown is not resolved by the end of October, leaving 1.9 million people across Illinois in peril.
The Impact on Illinois
The Illinois Department of Human Services announced Thursday it received notice from the U.S. Department of Agriculture that the federal agency would not fund November benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP, across the country starting Nov. 1 unless there’s a resolution to the shutdown. For Illinois, that would mean a loss of $350 million the state administers to recipients. “If SNAP funds are not delivered by the federal government, the State of Illinois does not have the budgetary ability to backfill these critical resources,” the state agency said in a statement.
The Program and Its Recipients
The program provides prepaid cards to 40 million people across the United States to buy groceries. About 45% of SNAP recipients include households with children, according to state officials. Gov. JB Pritzker said families would go without food because Trump and Republicans refuse to reach a compromise. “Why is it that they can find the money during a shutdown to pay their masked federal agents wreaking havoc in our communities but not help people in need put food on the table,” Pritzker said in a statement. “Trump promised to lower costs but that’s not happening — the very least they could do is preserve SNAP access for low-income families struggling to feed their kids.”
Preparations and Concerns
Even before this week’s announcement, food pantries had been bracing for longer lines because of expected changes to social programs like Medicaid, a public health insurance program, and SNAP after Trump succeeded in passing a sweeping tax and policy bill this summer. Those cuts to Medicaid are at the center of the government shutdown fight, with Democrats pushing for the proposed cuts to be reversed. “But for everyone to lose benefits, it’s more than catastrophic,” said Mitzi Baum, chief executive officer of the Nourishing Hope food pantries in Chicago. “Whether we’ll be able to absorb the impact of that is to be seen.”
A volunteer grabs a can of diced tomatoes from the shelf at Nourishing Hope’s Sheridan Market food pantry in Lake View over the summer. Chicago food pantries are bracing for increased demand.
Ashlee Rezin/Sun-Times file photo
Preparing for the Worst
Families received SNAP benefits for October, and there didn’t initially appear to be any disruption to the program, said Man-Yee Lee, spokesperson for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. But now families should prepare a “plan B” if SNAP benefits are paused for the foreseeable future, Lee said, urging people to find their nearest food pantry by going online to chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food-2/. “We are seriously worried about if this shutdown continues to go on, the longer it goes, the more people and the more hardship and hunger this is going to create in our communities,” Lee said.
The Role of Food Banks and Pantries
Food banks and pantries will be the first place people turn, and the city’s network of pantries are preparing for an influx in demand, Lee said. At Nourishing Hope, about 30% of the people they serve through their food pantries also receive SNAP benefits, Baum said. The organization is looking at getting more food donations, changing distribution hours and promoting its pick-up services. Trump’s aggressive deportation campaign in Chicago is also impacting operations at Nourishing Hope. The presence of federal immigration agents has been visible in all the neighborhoods where their pantries are located, Baum said. The increase in immigration arrests is one of the reasons why they are piloting a home delivery program for families who fear interacting with federal agents.
Conclusion
The potential withholding of SNAP benefits due to the government shutdown poses a significant threat to the well-being of millions of Americans, including 1.9 million Illinois residents. As charities and food banks prepare for an increase in demand, it is crucial that a resolution is found to ensure that these vital programs continue to support those in need. The impact of the shutdown on SNAP recipients and the broader community will be severe, and it is imperative that policymakers find a solution to mitigate this crisis.
FAQs
Q: What is SNAP and how does it work?
A: SNAP, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides prepaid cards to eligible individuals and families to purchase groceries. The program is funded by the federal government and administered by states.
Q: How many people in Illinois receive SNAP benefits?
A: Approximately 1.9 million people in Illinois receive SNAP benefits.
Q: What happens if the government shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are withheld?
A: If the shutdown continues and SNAP benefits are withheld, millions of Americans, including 1.9 million Illinois residents, will be at risk of going without food. Charities and food banks will face an influx in demand, but they may not be able to meet the needs of all those affected.
Q: How can I find my nearest food pantry?
A: You can find your nearest food pantry by going online to chicagosfoodbank.org/find-food-2/.
Q: What is being done to prepare for the potential increase in demand for food assistance?
A: Food banks and pantries are preparing for an influx in demand by getting more food donations, changing distribution hours, and promoting their pick-up services. Some organizations are also piloting home delivery programs for families who fear interacting with federal agents.
