The letters started to come in October. Across the county, families got word that the food benefits they relied on were being cut off or reduced to almost nothing. Of course, the letters were in English, a second language for many of the newcomers, a term used for the nearly 4,000 immigrants and refugees who call Cuyahoga County home.
For many, the uncertainty about food benefits, called SNAP, will last as long as the federal government is shut down. But President Donald Trump’s massive budget law, which Republicans call the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cut off access to the program for refugees and people granted asylum who are in the country lawfully. Previously, refugees were considered lawful permanent residents (LPRs) upon arrival and were eligible to access federal programs, such as SNAP, if they were income-qualified. Now, these newcomers must wait five years before becoming eligible.
“This is a multi-year crisis we’re looking at,” said Patrick Kearns, the executive director of Re:Source Cleveland. “We need continued community support as we move forward.“…