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Bangor officials weigh limited city aid as SNAP benefits risk interruption
Summary
Councilors discussed using one-time general assistance funds and public-health coordination to provide emergency food support if SNAP recipients miss November benefits amid a federal funding lapse. No formal allocation was approved; staff will compile resource lists and explore advocacy to state and federal officials.
Councilor Fournier said the council is exploring short-term city steps if SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients do not receive November benefits because of a federal funding lapse. “Next on my list is the federal shutdown and specifically, SNAP,” Fournier said, adding that reporting shows recipients may not receive benefits for November and that the city has been evaluating what it can do to fill gaps.
The council heard that public-health staff and general assistance (GA) funds could be used to provide food benefits to affected SNAP recipients. “Jen Gunnerman has been exploring the ways that we can use general assistance money to provide food benefits to SNAP recipients who don't get their benefits in November,” Fournier said. Staff said GA can be used for food and that public health can identify who is authorized to receive SNAP, which would make administrative targeting feasible.
Councilor Trumbull urged the council to press state and federal officials for action. “The Department of Agriculture has plenty of money. They have funds set aside for just such a circumstance, and they've been told not to use those funds,” Trumbull said. Several councilors supported sending communications to the city’s federal delegation and the governor asking for immediate stopgap action.
Staff outlined operational steps the city will take without further council action: compile an updated list of food banks and meal resources for the city website and social channels, coordinate with schools to distribute flyers to families, and work with local hospitals and nonprofits to direct donated funds to food banks with purchasing capacity. Fournier emphasized that municipal relief would be limited compared with the value of SNAP benefits and described the city’s planned response as a “drop in the bucket” relative to federal assistance levels.
No vote was taken. Councilors asked staff to continue developing operational details and to draft communications for the council to send to state and federal officials.
