Nonprofits that run food pantries and emergency food networks told the council they are facing rising demand, federal funding uncertainty and contract-payment delays and urged the city to increase and baseline Community Food Connection (CFC) funding.

Requests from providers: Hispanic Federation, Met Council, Catholic Charities, the Coalition for the Homeless, and the Metropolitan Council and other food providers asked the Council to baseline CFC at $100 million and to create a $20 million emergency food fund to fill gaps created by federal pauses and proposed SNAP reductions. Providers said emergency food visits have increased substantially since 2019 and that many pantries are now operating at higher volume and without stable federal funding streams.

Why providers say city action is needed: Witnesses described federal program disruptions (including a temporary pause of an emergency food and shelter grant referenced by Catholic Charities) and the prospect of large SNAP reductions. Providers said CFC funding allows them to buy culturally appropriate and fresh items and that city funds should be used to shore up networks during this period of federal uncertainty.

Nonprofit payment delays: Several speakers, including Homeless Services United and large shelter and supportive housing providers, also raised long-standing issues with delayed payments from the city to contracted nonprofits. Panels described invoice backlogs, multi-month delays and the need for MOCS (Mayor's Office of Contract Services) systems improvements; DSS said it has put cash advances in place and has been convening provider meetings and operational fixes and that average invoice-to-payment time is about 28 days though experiences vary.

Council next steps: Providers asked for baseline budget uplifts, emergency funds, and operational reforms that speed invoice processing and deconflict mod/invoice dependencies. DSS and MOCS said they are working on technical fixes, improved convenings and temporary advance payments, and will continue weekly provider meetings to resolve outstanding payments.

Ending: Multiple providers emphasized that without additional city resources and faster payment reform, the emergency food network risks service reductions as federal funding becomes less predictable.