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Governor Ned Lamont today announced that his administration is providing $3 million in emergency state funding to the nonprofit organization Connecticut Foodshare to help Connecticut residents who are expected to lose access to food stamp benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the shutdown of the federal government.
This includes eligible children of "undocumented" residents.
The Trump administration, through the U.S. Department of Agriculture, announced in a memo on Friday that it will not use its $6 billion contingency fund to support this program during the shutdown, nor will it reimburse states if they cover the costs themselves, blaming Senate Democrats for letting the "well" run dry.
While Connecticut residents who have unused SNAP benefits from previous months on their EBT cards will still be able to access those carryover funds, no new benefits will be issued in November without federal action which requires cooperation from Democrats.
“Connecticut families should not go hungry because of Washington’s dysfunction,” Governor Lamont said. “While this $3 million in emergency funding will not fill the entire gap left by the federal government, it represents our state’s commitment to supporting our neighbors during this crisis. We are stepping up because Connecticut takes care of its own, and we will continue working to support our residents until this federal shutdown is resolved.”
In Connecticut, SNAP is administered by the the state's Department of Social Services (DSS).
“The suspension of SNAP benefits due to the federal shutdown affects approximately 360,000 Connecticut residents, including the elderly, disabled, and children and their families who rely on SNAP to meet a basic human need, access to healthy food,” DSS Commissioner Andrea Barton Reeves said. “This emergency funding will help Connecticut Foodshare expand its capacity to meet the urgent needs of our communities. But we are also asking everyone to help keep our friends and neighbors from experiencing food insecurity by donating as generously as you can to your local food pantry. Donations of canned and boxed foods and monetary donations are especially needed now. Together, we all make sure that no one falls through the cracks during this challenging time.”
“President Donald Trump is purposefully starving Connecticut residents in a cruel political stunt that weaponizes hunger against the most vulnerable,” Senate President Martin M. Looney said. “It is unconscionable that the president of the United States would heartlessly take food off the tables of children, seniors, and working families. The Republican federal shutdown is causing very real harm in every corner of our state. This emergency infusion of state funding is a lifeline that will help families put food on the table and keep our food banks from being overwhelmed in the weeks ahead.”
“Connecticut continues the work to protect our most vulnerable,” Speaker of the House Matt Ritter said. “This infusion of state funds will allow Connecticut Foodshare to continue to feed our neighbors in need. I also encourage the Trump administration to open the SNAP portal to states so that we can fund these benefits during the shutdown.”
The emergency state funding will support Connecticut Foodshare’s efforts to provide food assistance to families and individuals facing food insecurity.
“This $3 million investment will make a real difference for families across Connecticut who are facing an impossible choice between paying rent and putting food on the table,” Connecticut Foodshare CEO Jason Jakubowski said. “While we recognize this funding cannot replace the full scale of federal SNAP benefits, it will help us to buy more food for agency partners and mobile pantries across the state over the next two weeks. We are grateful for the state’s leadership and commitment to protecting Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents.”
Governor Lamont, DSS, and other state agencies continue to monitor the ongoing impact of the shutdown and are exploring additional measures to support Connecticut residents, apparently even those here illegally.
It's worth mentioning that Connecticut Foodshare "embodies equity" as one of its four key pillars for improving food security in the state. As such, it applies the lens of "diversity, equity and inclusion" to all aspects of its work, and taps into the "lived experience" of folks who need help.
In addition to Connecticut Foodshare, which is the largest food bank in Connecticut, there are local food pantries all throughout the state that are providing food to those in need and are also seeking donations. To locate food pantries in Connecticut, visit 211ct.org.
For information on how to obtain food assistance from Connecticut Foodshare, as well as information on how to donate to this organization, visit www.ctfoodshare.org.
For a list of frequently asked questions regarding the impact of the federal shutdown on SNAP benefits in Connecticut, click here.
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