By Juliana Vasquez | Staff Writer
Forty-two million Americans have had their dinner plans up in the air as the government shutdown threatened America’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
After 43 days in shutdown limbo, a funding bill passed the Senate and the House. President Donald Trump officially signed it into place Wednesday night, reopening the government and restoring SNAP benefits.
That doesn’t lessen the sting of nearly two weeks without SNAP benefits.
America’s financial year begins on Oct. 1, with enough funding set aside to support essential government programs like SNAP through the end of the month.
“Bottom line, the well has run dry,” the United States Department of Agriculture stated on its website. “At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1.”
So once Nov. 1 rolled around, with the government still shut down, states scrambled to pick up the burden left by SNAP.
Although the USDA has an additional $6 billion in savings to utilize in times of need, Dr. Jeremy Everett, Founder and Executive Director of the Baylor Collaborative on Hunger and Poverty, stated they have not elected to use those right now.
“[This has] never happened before,” Everett said. “We’ve always chosen to use whatever rainy day fund we had to be able to fully fund SNAP benefits.”
This move has put low-income families and students in counties like McLennan in a difficult spot. Everett said this will be the difference between families and students choosing between paying the rent, medication or food, with some users potentially skipping meals to pay for other essentials.
“That’s only going to be heightened when you don’t have that money that you’re dependent upon to be able to help cover your food expenses through SNAP program,” Everett said.
Dallas senior Lila Finke said food assistance programs like SNAP are vital to America’s most vulnerable communities.
“Having SNAP benefits and having food is like the least the government could do to help low-income families that have no other way to provide for their families,” Finke said.
Everett stated the idea that SNAP recipients are unwilling to work is a common and dangerous misconception when it comes to understanding the necessity of SNAP benefits. Likewise, those who utilize SNAP benefits generate income for McLennan County’s grocery stores. With SNAP paused, those benefits also vanish from the local economy.
“We’re losing about $8.2 million … due to the disruption of benefits,” Everett said. “That has a potential to linger.”
Although states are beginning to release SNAP funds in partial payments, these payments are limited and skewed. The Texas Tribune reported that some Texans have received about 65% of the typical month’s SNAP allotment, while others have received “as little as $16 for two people or no payments at all.”
Everett encouraged those struggling with food insecurity to turn to the resources their community offers them as a beacon of hope.
“So many people are stepping up,” Everett said. “That represents a lot of good people and communities all across our country.”
Everett mentioned local organizations such as Meals on Wheels, Shepherd’s Heart and on-campus resources like The Store and The Fridge.
Students with a meal plan also have the opportunity to donate unused meal swipes, which is as easy as a quick conversation with a Baylor Dining representative at the cash register. Students who would like to use these donated swipes can apply online to receive them.
Everett called on students to attest to their faith and do whatever they could to help those struggling with food insecurity, whether that be by donating to a food drive or donating their unused guest swipes.
“It’s important that we understand that we’re called to be faithful,” Everett said. “So we just have to continue to show up for people in poverty because our faith compels us to do so.”
