In an attempt to prevent a critical food assistance program from halting, Cuyahoga County leaders are calling on the president and Congress to end the federal shutdown.
More than 190,000 Cuyahoga County residents are at risk of losing their November benefits to SNAP, the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to as food stamps or EBT (electronic benefit transfer). The program helps . Continued funding for SNAP is contingent on the passing of a federal budget, which has been put on pause by the shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees SNAP, .
鈥淲e created this crisis, and we have the power and the moral obligation to end it,鈥� Cuyahoga County Councilmember Meredith Turner said. 鈥淔amilies will struggle. Children will go hungry and the progress we鈥檝e made in reducing food insecurity will vanish overnight.鈥�
Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne said the county is working with food banks and social services to feed people if the shutdown continues into November.
鈥淏ut the truth is, no local safety net can absorb the shock of this magnitude," Ronayne said. "Unfortunately, the decision not to fund SNAP benefits is a choice. The President of the United States and his administration can authorize the use of USDA鈥檚 contingency fund to keep SNAP going.鈥�
Ronayne also called on Ohio Governor Mike DeWine to use emergency funds to make up for lost SNAP funding.
鈥淒uring previous federal funding lapses, states have acted swiftly to provide temporary resources to sustain critical nutrition programs,鈥� Ronayne said. 鈥淚f this isn鈥檛 a rainy day, folks, I don鈥檛 know what is.鈥�
Diane Howard is a West side Cleveland senior citizen and a SNAP recipient.
鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 really afford to buy food without SNAP," Howard said. "Or adding a little bit of money with SNAP. I couldn鈥檛 afford it. I might as well tell my children, 鈥楶ut me in a graveyard I guess.鈥� I hate to say that, but it鈥檚 coming to that."
Ronayne also said SNAP spending is necessary to keep Ohio鈥檚 grocery economy functioning.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not just families who suffer," Ronayne said. "It鈥檚 cashiers, it鈥檚 stock clerks whose hours get cut. A lot is on the line for these small business owners who lose revenue.鈥�
U.S. Rep. Shontel Brown said she is working with fellow Ohio U.S. Rep. Emilia Sykes to create a bill that would ensure SNAP benefits are continued during any future federal government shutdowns.
鈥淔eeding families should never be held hostage to political gains,鈥� Brown said.
Cleveland Councilmember Stephanie Howse-Jones called on local companies that have benefited from federal tax cuts to be charitable for the looming hunger issues.
鈥淲e鈥檒l see come November if they will let it rain on us through the economics," Howse-Jones said. "We鈥檒l see. But if history proves, it鈥檚 not likely."
There鈥檚 also a growing concern that funding for WIC, a federally funded nutrition program for women, infants and children, will stop receiving funding next month. WIC did receive temporary emergency funds earlier this month from the White House to remain stable through the end of October.
