Democrats and Republicans are reportedly close to a deal to end the federal shutdown that has interrupted SNAP benefits and delayed food assistance for millions. But recipients and local safety-net programs say the need for help will persist even after the government reopens.
Radha Muthiah, CEO of the Capital Area Food Bank (CAFB) in Washington, D.C., says the nonprofit has added five extra weekly food distributions for furloughed federal workers since the shutdown began Oct. 1. Those distributions have served between 1,500 and 2,000 families a week. CAFB plans to provide about 1 million more meals this month for people who haven’t received their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Muthiah says some residents the food bank serves are tapping long-term savings and retirement accounts and are rethinking plans such as where their children will attend college because of lost incomes and benefits. “People are borrowing against their futures to be able to pay for basic necessities today, and that really shouldn’t be the case,” she said.
The Department of Agriculture said it would run out of money on Nov. 1, and there has been legal back-and-forth over whether the administration must issue full SNAP benefits for November. The administration has appealed to the Supreme Court, arguing it can only afford to provide 65% of November SNAP allotments. The court extended an order temporarily blocking full payments. Some states have begun issuing full payments anyway, but many recipients still lack clear information about when benefits will be distributed, how much they will receive, or whether benefits will be backdated.
“There may be rollercoaster rides, as we’re seeing between the administration and the courts,” Muthiah said. “But people need to eat every day…and so the need has not changed.”
The shutdown — the longest in U.S. history — has compounded demand at CAFB, which was already seeing higher need because of reductions in force at federal agencies. CAFB expects to distribute about 10% more meals during the current fiscal year. And the surge is not limited to federal employees: people across industries are seeking emergency food assistance as wages and hours are affected.
“One whole downstream effect” is that people who are newly food insecure or need more support are turning to the emergency food network, Muthiah said.
Rabitah Moses of Rockville, Md., is one CAFB client who has not received SNAP benefits this month. Disabled and unable to work, she says she has had no direct communication from agencies about timing or amounts and has relied on news reports and state press releases for updates. Moses typically receives just over $100 a month in SNAP benefits. While that amount doesn’t cover all food costs, its absence has mental and physical effects: “Most medications you have to take with food,” she said. “If you don’t have food, you can’t take medication, and if you can’t take your medication, you’re gonna just get more and more sick.”
Moses has used food banks, including CAFB, but worries about overwhelmed systems and unmet needs like dietary restrictions amid higher demand.
Muthiah credits strong local financial support for helping CAFB scale up. She says one dollar donated can fund two meals because the organization sources food from wholesale markets and maintains its own donation stock. Beyond money, the food bank urgently needs volunteers to help manage distribution lines and support partner agencies.
People who want to help can find local food bank directories on city, county, or state websites, or use national resources such as Feeding America.
