In wake of the federal government cutting its funding for food assistance benefits, local Spokane-area food banks and community organizations have already begun to report “COVID levels” of stress on their services.
With the government shutdown creeping into November, community members have been bracing for the deficit left by what little remaining funds are to be disbursed under the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP — if the federal government even disperses it at all. After that money runs out, all funding for SNAP will cease – leaving about 40 million Americans, and nearly 1 million Washingtonians – in food insecurity.
In Spokane alone, one in five residents are at risk of losing SNAP benefits, with Mayor Lisa Brown declaring a state of emergency earlier this week due to the rippling effects the shutdown has had on services for low-income residents…