More than 71,000 people in Lucas County will lose their SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 if the federal government shutdown drags on, but officials want the state to step in and foot the bill.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known as SNAP, provides food assistance for low-income people across the country. States that administer the program were told to halt processing November’s benefits until further notice, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture warning that “if the current lapse in appropriations continues, there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits.”
In Lucas County, the 71,543 individuals receiving SNAP benefits make up 16.6 percent of the population. About 31,500 of those are children, and about 40,000 are adults. Local leaders held a news conference Monday to call on state politicians to fund the SNAP program until the federal government is funded…