Starting November 1, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) — known in California as CalFresh — will be temporarily suspended for low-income residents, raising concern among Korean seniors and small business owners in Koreatown.
The suspension follows the ongoing federal government shutdown, pausing food assistance for about 1.5 million residents who depend on these benefits. Local markets and community centers have been flooded with calls asking when aid will resume.
At Hannam Chain in Los Angeles on October 30, many Korean shoppers used their EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards to buy rice, noodles, and vegetables ahead of the suspension.
“I get $120 every month on my EBT card,” said a 90-year-old woman surnamed Kim, “but I heard it’s stopping next month. I’m worried about not being able to buy food.”…