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Austin, Travis County officials warn SNAP benefits will stop Nov. 1; local agencies expand food aid
Summary
City and county leaders and nonprofit executives warned that a continuing federal government shutdown will halt SNAP benefits beginning Nov. 1 and outlined immediate local measures — expanded food distributions, waived pantry limits and referral services — to help affected households.
City and county officials and nonprofit leaders warned at a news conference that if the federal government shutdown continues, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will not be issued beginning Nov. 1 and that local agencies are stepping in to provide emergency food assistance.
Travis County Judge Andy Brown said the halt will affect about 44,895 households — more than 87,000 people — in Travis County and that nearly 13,000 federal employees who work in Austin had already missed at least one paycheck. "For many of our residents, that's not some abstract number or policy issue. That's food on the table or not having food on the table," Brown said.
The announcements came as officials described immediate relief steps. Travis County has waived a policy that limited residents to one visit to county community-center food pantries every 30 days so affected families may access pantry supplies as often as…
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