WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO CT RESIDENTS WITHOUT SNAP BENEFITS
THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS WEAPONIZING HUNGER
On November 1, millions will lose their SNAP food assistance benefits as the Trump administration holds the health and well-being of the American people hostage.
In an official statement by the United States Department of Agriculture, it shares, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 01. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats. They can continue to hold out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopen the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”
SNAP, which was created in1939 during the Great Depression, provides $72 million in monthly benefits to state residents. For families, seniors and those with disabilities, the program makes food more accessible, allowing vulnerable populations to eat on a consistent basis.
While Connecticut residents anxiously wait to see what the government will do, many are wondering what we can actually do to protect ourselves. Earlier this week, Governor Ned Lamont initiated a $3 million emergency grant to the nonprofit Connecticut Foodshare as well as a food pantry outreach campaign. However, the $3 million is a drop in the bucket compared to the $72 million SNAP provides. Not to mention, the grant is not nearly as effective as receiving federal funds directly deposited onto an Electronic Benefit Transfer card that can be used at corner stores and local bodegas. This past Tuesday, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong joined three governors and twenty-two attorneys in a lawsuit against the Trump Administration, asserting the suspension of SNAP was a politically-motivated choice, not an inevitable outcome. “They are weaponizing hunger to serve their political priorities. It is so wrong, unconscionable. It is wrong to starve people so you can bring your political opponents to heel. It is wrong to starve people into submission and that is what this president is doing,” Attorney Tong states. Although it is encouraging to see legal and elected representatives fight for our state, Connecticut has very little sway on a national scale.
If the United States Department of Agriculture refuses to release funds, the effects of a suspension will be catastrophic and millions of those in need, namely seniors and children, will starve. Even if you don’t directly receive SNAP benefits yourself, the loss of the food program will have a ripple affect throughout the economy. SNAP benefits creates more consumers at grocery stores and food markets. With fewer families able to buy food, fewer consumers will result in higher food prices, as well as higher rates of crime as hundreds of thousands will go hungry and resort to stealing in order to eat.
Mutual aid, social safety nets and robust community support seem to be the most viable solutions to widespread food insecurity. Sarana, seasoned community organizer and Executive Creative Director of Mutual Aid Hartford asserts that the only way to mitigate governmental and legislative violence is through reciprocal community support. “People do not have what they need because of racial capitalism. It is our job as a community to take responsibility for one another. The ethos of Mutual Aid Hartford is just neighbors helping neighbors. We believe that we can build power towards greater changes by supporting each other's basic needs and showing up for each other in tangible ways. Mutual Aid Hartford’s motto is building community power through person to person care and connection.”
Mutual Aid Hartford started out as neighbors coming together during the pandemic to provide a volunteer version of Instacart, filling in the gaps when someone in the community came up short. Mutual Aid Hartford is currently combating food insecurity through by offering dry good staples and non-perishables to those in need and is able to do so without solely relying on donations. “ We hope that this connects people in a way that emphasizes the idea that we are responsible for each other and that we have the ability to take care of each other if we connect along meeting our collective needs,” Sarana adds.
“It’s the spirit of giving what you can. Everyone is welcome to come and get food and when you can, give back $5 or work a volunteer shift. Mutual aid works based on everyone doing what they can, according to their own ability and according to their own needs.” With the government stripping its constituents of its most basic needs, it is up to us to look out for one another, as well as fuel and sustain our own local ecosystems.
Organizations such as Hands On Hartford provide community pantries where all Connecticut residents are eligible for an emergency food bag. Meanwhile, Find Help offers a directory of nearby food pantries and resources for financial assistance, healthcare and housing. See below for a list of mutual aid resources.