Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Social Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mayor warns SNAP interruption could affect roughly one in four Barre City residents
Summary
At the council meeting Mayor (speaker 1) said the federal SNAP ("3 Squares") program is set to expire Nov. 1 and that roughly 1,904 Barre City residents — about 23% of the city's 8,304 population — could be affected; he outlined state and legal steps being pursued and urged local preparedness.
Mayor (speaker 1) told the council the city is preparing for the possible interruption of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, known in Vermont as "3 Squares," if federal funding lapses on Nov. 1. "Here in Barre, we have 8,304 people in our city. These are the people who will be directly affected. 1,904 people out of a population of 8,304, roughly 23% of our population," the mayor said, calling the numbers "sobering." He also said 1,217 households and 531 children in the city would be affected by the change.
The mayor outlined three parallel efforts he said might blunt the immediate impact: (1) the governor's emergency board may convene to temporarily fund benefits, (2) legislation pending in the U.S. Senate that would fund SNAP continuance, and (3) a multistate lawsuit filed in federal court today seeking to ensure benefit continuity. "They're hopeful that by Monday or Tuesday of next week, if the emergency board votes to fund the program, the delay will be only a day or two," he said. He acknowledged delays tied to weekend banking and warned families that even a short pause would be serious for those who rely on EBT cards.
Council members asked about local supports and resources. The mayor said the city is preparing a local resource list of food shelves, warming centers and partner agencies; staff will contact local food banks and charitable providers about extending hours over the weekend if federal replenishment is delayed. The mayor and staff committed to posting updates on the city's social channels and to coordinating with regional partners, and requested that residents contact clerks or city offices if they need help locating emergency food resources.
Ending: The council did not take formal action beyond hearing the briefing; staff were asked to compile and publish a list of local food resources and outreach options for residents who may be affected.
