FoodShare benefits will run out November 2
Government shutdown threatens food security of 859,000 Wisconsinites
If the government shutdown continues for two more weeks, 859,000 Wisconsin residents and 289,000 Milwaukee residents who rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP which is food stamps or FoodShare in Wisconsin) will lose their benefits starting on November 2.
SNAP is the largest nutrition assistance program in the nation. Not only will individuals receiving FoodShare assistance be hurt by the cut off funding, this will also hurt the economy. FoodShare is used to purchase food and over $178,000,000 of FoodShare benefits are spent each month on groceries in Wisconsin. Wisconsin grocers and others in the food industry should be concerned as should any and all industry connected with the food system.
“If there isn’t a resolution by October 17, November FoodShare benefits could clearly be affected. Benefit issuance for November 2 is processed on October 17. One tenth of the population of all FoodShare eligible households receive benefits on a rolling basis from October 17 forward. As such, 85,000 Wisconsinites are at risk of losing their benefits for November. With each day that passes, the number of people who will be affected increases by another 85,000. By the end of the month 859,000 in Wisconsin will be harmed.” stated Sherrie Tussler, Hunger Task Force Executive Director.
The attached chart illustrates the number of local and statewide residents who will be affected and when. It also outlines the economic impact the loss of FoodShare spending will have in the city as well as the state.
The Federal Government has offered assurance that commodity foods will continue to be delivered to food banks like Hunger Task Force through the end of December and that WIC clinics will remain open through Halloween, but there is no clarity on the future of FoodShare after November 1.
Hunger Task Force believes that every person has the right to adequate food obtained with dignity. Hunger Task Force works to prevent hunger and malnutrition by providing food to people in need today and by promoting social policies to achieve a hunger free community tomorrow. For more information visit HungerTaskForce.org.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.
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