In a week, over 450,000 people in New Mexico may lose their food benefits due to the federal government shutdown. This puts many families at risk of hunger. With the nation’s highest reliance on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), about 250,000 households could be affected. Local food banks fear they won’t be able to fill the gap.
“People are scared. They don’t know how they’re going to feed their families,” said Jason Riggs, advocacy director of the Roadrunner Food Bank. He warned that a prolonged shutdown could lead to a public health crisis.
Recent communication from SNAP officials highlighted funding shortfalls for November. They instructed states, including New Mexico, not to submit files needed for SNAP purchases. As a result, many retailers may no longer accept SNAP benefits come November.
HCA Secretary Kari Armijo indicated that this decision essentially revokes authorization for stores to approve purchases. Yet, the state is seeking clarity from the USDA.
Amid this uncertainty, questions about electronic benefit cards linger. “There’s chaos and confusion in many states,” Riggs shared during a hunger advocacy meeting.
In New Mexico, around 1,700 retailers accept SNAP. More than half may face significant revenue drops. A recent analysis showed that if SNAP funds are cut, many could shut down.
Riggs pointed out that SNAP provides nine times more food assistance than food banks can offer. “Food banks cannot fill that gap, especially in such a short timeframe,” he said.
Jill Dixon, director of the New Mexico Association of Food Banks, said that food banks are quickly shifting to respond. They’re organizing pop-up distributions, buying food, and mobilizing volunteers, reminiscent of their pandemic efforts.
Though the Health Care Authority aims to expedite about $8 million in food bank funding, it falls short of the $90 million in expected SNAP benefits for November. This leaves food banks struggling to meet an increased demand while facing their own challenges.
As this situation unfolds, the voices of those affected echo across social media, revealing a palpable fear and uncertainty among New Mexicans about where their next meal will come from. History shows that during crises, communities often step up to support one another, but the scale of this crisis could test those efforts in ways previously unseen.
