KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE) — The Knoxville City Council is set to consider giving $100,000 to support food assistance programs as the government shutdown impacts Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
Mayor Indya Kincannon proposed the emergency ordinance, which would allocate $100,000 from the City’s Unassigned Fund Balance, to address critical food shortages in Knoxville. The city council will vote on the proposal during its meeting on Tuesday.
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In addition, the United Way of Greater Knoxville agreed to match the amount with funds from private donors, resulting in a total of $200,000 being given to support food banks in the Knoxville area. According to Kincannon, nearly 35,000 Knox County residents rely on SNAP benefits and a recent survey found that food banks have seen a 20-50% increase in requests for services.
“We want to help our neighbors during these challenging times,” said Kincannon. “No family should have to choose between paying bills and putting food on the table. With Council support, we can help meet the urgent needs of our community together.”
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Earlier this month, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee announced that the state would provide $5 million for food banks. The funds are set to be allocated based on SNAP populations in each region…