For the first time ever, SNAP food assistance benefits lapsed on Saturday, Nov. 1 as a result of the government shutdown.
At New Life Mission, 17 moms and 37 children in our care won’t receive their Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance (SNAP) benefits because of the government shutdown. Applications also are not being processed, so the five new families who came into the program in October were not able to apply for benefits, which means they will have an extended wait even after the government is back in session.
For families already walking the hard road from homelessness to stability, the loss of this safety net is devastating. The average SNAP benefit is about $180 per person per month—which means our mission could be facing an unexpected $10,000 need just for November to ensure every child and mother in our program has food on the table.
At New Life Mission, we don’t rely on government funding to operate. But many of our families depend on programs like SNAP and Medicaid when they first enter our program. These benefits provide a foundation of stability while moms begin their two-year journey toward independence.
If a mom doesn’t have those supports when she arrives, our case management team helps her apply. We do this because stability is the very first step in our four-phase pathway to transforming homeless families.
Once that foundation is in place, we walk beside her and:
- Schedule well checks and dental appointments for her and her children.
- Teach budgeting and meal planning skills.
- Practice grocery shopping and healthy cooking on a SNAP budget.
As families progress through the levels of the program and begin earning an income, their SNAP benefits naturally decrease until they no longer need them. That’s the goal — self-sufficiency. In fact, 90% of the families who complete our program never return to homelessness.
But for the 17 moms and 37 children currently in our care — and the families waiting to enter — this shutdown threatens the stability they’ve worked so hard to achieve.
We’re committed to standing in the gap, so no child goes hungry and no mother faces this crisis alone.
Here’s How You Can Help:
Give a gift today to help New Life Mission cover emergency food and household supplies.
Sponsor a family with a one-time donation of $180 — the average monthly SNAP benefit for one person.
Pray for peace and provision for our moms and children during this uncertain time.
Your compassion makes a lasting difference. Together, we’ll continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus — educating, empowering, and equipping homeless families to live with hope and self-sufficiency.
FAQS ABOUT SNAP
What are the origins of SNAP?
The U.S. first offered federal food aid in 1939 during the Great Depression to feed hungry Americans and to match crops deemed agricultural surplus with those in need. The program, earlier known as food stamps, has evolved over time and was later renamed the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.
Who is eligible for SNAP?
Benefits vary by state. Typically, a family of four qualifies for benefits if their gross income is less than about $3,400 a month. Some qualifications have changed recently due to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the tax-and-spending bill signed into law by President Trump. Previously, able-bodied adults ages 18 to 54 without dependents had to work or do job training part time to qualify for SNAP benefits. That requirement now stretches to age 64 and to parents with children over 13 years old. Otherwise, they are restricted to three months of benefits in three years.
What can SNAP pay for?
Most staple foods, such as meat, produce, grains, snacks and nonalcoholic beverages are considered eligible purchases. Households aren't allowed to use the benefits to purchase alcohol, tobacco products or vitamins, medicines and supplements, or other nonfood items. The federal government has allowed some states including Arkansas, Nebraska and Texas to also restrict purchases of soda or other processed foods such as candy.
FAQs supplied by the Wall Street Journal
