BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. — Residents whose Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been left in limbo are searching for answers.
“We live in the richest country in the world. Why are we weaponizing hunger?” said SNAP recipient Annette Chang.
Many spoke out during an event on Monday alongside Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Shultz.
“And who will be hurt? It’s overwhelmingly children, women, seniors, and veterans who get this assistance,” said Wasserman Schultz.
Nearly 11% of households in Wasserman Shultz’s district benefit from SNAP.
“For a few months this year, I was able to get around $200 monthly for food help,” said SNAP recipient Flordaliza Jimenez. “And now I only get $23 in SNAP help.”
Last week, two judges ruled the Trump administration must use emergency funds for SNAP.
On Monday, Trump announcing recipients will receive half of their benefits as the government shutdown enters its fifth week.
Broward County resident Sheba McKinon says she works 40 hours a week and relies on SNAP and was due to receive assistance on Nov. 1.
“I thought it was a joke, really, to be honest,” she said. “I thought that they was going to release the funds. They can’t let us go without having the funds or something like that. But when I woke up on the first and checked, it wasn’t there.”
Census data shows that’s in Florida’s 26th Congressional District, including parts of Doral, Hialeah and Miami Lakes, 23.7% of households receive SNAP benefits.
In Broward’s 20th District, 20.5% of households benefit from SNAP.
Local organizations like Lifenet For Families and its partners have been stepping up to provide food assistance.
CEO Denise Brown announced Monday that their Lauderhill food pantry will now be open six days a week to help SNAP recipients and furloughed government workers.
“As a responsible community we must respond,” said Brown. “Regrettably the suspension of SNAP benefits will force many people to choose between paying rent or utilities or purchasing food.”
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