Hampton outlines VENA emergency food assistance as SNAP halts during federal shutdown

Hampton City Council heard a briefing on emergency food benefits as the federal government shutdown threatened to interrupt SNAP payments. City Manager Bunting introduced the Human Services Director, Doctor Tamara Timoni Porter, who said Virginia will use a state-funded program called the Virginia Emergency Nutrition Assistance (VENA) to cover current SNAP recipients for the month of November.

Dr. Tamara Timoni Porter, the city’s human services director, told council that VENA is funded from state surplus dollars and is intended initially for existing SNAP cases rather than applicants who recently applied. "This is not SNAP but it is an emergency assistance, nutrition assistance program," she said, adding the program will prioritize existing recipients while the state determines how new applicants may be included.

Under VENA, Dr. Porter said, benefits will be paid in four weekly installments equal to 25% of the usual monthly allotment rather than as a single monthly disbursement. She used a $400-a-month example to illustrate the change: recipients would receive $100 per week, starting the week of Nov. 3 for those who normally received funds Nov. 1. The city manager explained the staggered schedule remains tied to case numbers "so grocery stores aren't inundated."

Council members pressed whether recipients would have to repay VENA funds if the federal government resumes payments. Dr. Porter said the state is treating VENA as a supplement "and they will not have to pay this money back. This is not considered income." She added that VENA follows the same purchase rules as SNAP and that existing EBT card balances will remain available to clients.

On eligibility, Dr. Porter said recipients include single parents, two‑parent families, seniors and adults with disabilities and that award amounts vary based on household size and income. The city manager emphasized that working, low‑wage households are often SNAP recipients as well.

Dr. Porter said the Virginia Department of Social Services (VDSS) is preparing a communications toolkit, pending approval from the governor’s office, that localities may use to notify clients via social media, text and email; until the toolkit is released the city’s marketing office will publish initial guidance and use lobby signage. She urged clients to check EBT balances via the customer phone number before shopping because state messaging may not list exact amounts.

The state has committed funding through November while it monitors the shutdown; Dr. Porter said additional guidance about December would follow only if the shutdown persists.

The council thanked staff for the update; Dr. Porter said she would provide further updates as the situation evolves.