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Meeker County amends MFIP plan and ramps community coordination ahead of potential SNAP/MFIP interruption
Summary
Health & Human Services staff told the board they are planning for possible interruption of SNAP and MFIP benefits; the board approved a temporary amendment to the MFIP plan to expand emergency assistance options if benefits stop.
Meeker County Health & Human Services staff briefed commissioners on contingency planning in case a federal government shutdown halts issuance of SNAP and Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) benefits. The board approved an amendment to the county rea MFIP plan to allow expanded use of emergency assistance funds if benefit issuance is suspended.
Tina (HHS) told the board the county is "attempting to plan" for an anticipated pause in SNAP and MFIP benefit issuance starting Nov. 1 if a federal shutdown continues, and that WIC funds had been extended to Nov. 15. She described outreach to community partners, including the county food shelf (Jamie) and UCAP (Rochelle), and said staff are preparing donation drives and communications to help families if benefits stop. "We're trying to do everything we can to have some way to meet some of the need, and then we're gonna need to depend on the community to step on surround those people impacted," she said.
Staff proposed amending the MFIP plan for 2025 to expand the emergency assistance portion of the program so remaining funds could be used for people impacted by a lapse in benefit issuance. Commissioners moved to amend the MFIP plan; the motion passed by voice vote.
HHS leaders stressed that the county efforts would rely on existing grants and community partners rather than county levy dollars and asked the board to consider outreach to federal legislators about local impacts if the shutdown persists. Staff said they will continue coordination with food shelves and UCAP to manage donations and distribution logistics and will produce talking points and community messaging as needed.
