Increasing hunger is a policy choice. The Big Ugly Bill already imposed the largest SNAP cut in the program’s history, and now, with the shutdown, millions more are at risk of losing access to the nutrition program when funding is depleted in two weeks.
The administration can―and must―take steps to protect SNAP benefits. SNAP running out of money would be catastrophic. Nearly 1 in 8 people, including 16 million children and 8 million people with disabilities, would go without the food assistance they need.
Two-thirds of the money needed to partially fund another month is in SNAP’s contingency fund, which must be used when regular funding falls short. The contingency fund has $6 billion, which is still short of the $8 billion needed to fully fund SNAP recipients per month. The administration can use other measures to ensure families get full November benefits―and they must act ASAP to give states guidance and enough time to get families the help they need to put food on the table.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration, via the United States Department of Agriculture, moved $300 million to WIC, the nutrition program that serves women, infants, and children. It’s time for the administration to do the same for SNAP, by tapping funds that are allowed by law to be used for this purpose.
Every year, the Coalition on Human Needs gathers advocates, from neophytes to veterans with decades of experience, to celebrate our community’s steadfast commitment to standing up for the most vulnerable in our society. And there is much to celebrate: We’ve stood up against harmful cuts to programs like SNAP and succeeded in increasing funding for human needs programs; fought for a fair and accurate Census; resisted attacks on immigrants; and much more.
Of course, these accomplishments are only possible thanks to the tireless work of the generations of change-makers who have come before us. That’s why we are especially thrilled to honor Marian Wright Edelman and Peter Edelman for their historic contributions to advancing the cause of the most needy, spending decades advocating for those who need an advocate the most.
We’re hoping you and/or your organization will sponsor the event and be listed in invitations and our program. This is our only in-person fundraising event of the year and all proceeds raised go to supporting the work of the Coalition on Human Needs.
For more information and to sponsor: Click here for our Human Needs Hero event page!