Hamilton County officials warn 97,000 residents, food banks and housing vendors face strain if federal shutdown persists

Hamilton County officials told commissioners on Oct. 28 that a continuing federal government shutdown could interrupt benefits and payments that sustain food access and federally subsidized housing for tens of thousands of county residents.

Michael Patton of Job & Family Services (JFS) said October SNAP benefits already have been issued and "can be used in November" until recipients exhaust their cards, but that "SNAP benefits will not be loaded to cards for the benefit month of November as long as the shutdown continues," based on current guidance from the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services. Patton told commissioners the county has "approximately 97,000 recipients who may be affected by the shutdown," including about 53,000 adults and roughly 43,000 children. He said the county’s average monthly SNAP issuance is around $19,000,000 (about $240,000,000 annually) and that roughly 11,457 recipients are age 65 or older.

Patton urged residents…