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Cumberland County warns SNAP allotments may not arrive in November as federal shutdown continues
Summary
Cheryl Holden, director of the Cumberland County Division of Social Services, told commissioners a federal shutdown has led to state notification that November SNAP allotments will not be loaded to benefit cards, affecting roughly 14,000 households and prompting county-organized food distribution plans.
Cheryl Holden, director of the Cumberland County Division of Social Services, told commissioners the federal government has informed states it will not load November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments to electronic benefit cards because of a federal shutdown.
"We have approximately 14,000 households in Cumberland County that collect SNAP. It's about 27,000 people and approximately 13,000 of those are children," Holden said. "In addition to the number of people that this program is a safety net for to provide food for their families, it also generates about 5 and a half million dollars every month in Cumberland County that goes to grocery stores, bodegas, and wherever those EBT cards are able to be used."
Holden said the state and county do not have authority or funds to replace the federal entitlement and that the federal government has told states they will not be reimbursed if they front the money. "The state has no ability to fund this," she said.
County staff described immediate stopgap efforts. Holden said county social services has been coordinating with Jill Lombardo and Rural Development to plan food distribution and that the county will try to provide some food through a distribution center, though it will not match the monthly SNAP allotments. "It is not going to be the amount that individuals receive on a monthly basis. It is not going to cover all of their food expenses, but we will do whatever we can to help them until hopefully this money becomes available soon," she said.
Commissioners and staff discussed mobilizing faith-based groups and food pantries, using the county website for updates, and publicizing distribution plans once locations and schedules are confirmed. Holden said details about timing, locations and quantities should be available by Friday and that the county will post updates and coordinate with partners.
No formal board action was taken; staff were directed to continue planning and to provide updates to the board and the public as details are confirmed.
