Martina Santos, a 67-year-old from the Bronx, New York, feels trapped in a nightmare. Recently, she and almost 42 million Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. The U.S. Department of Agriculture mentioned they might partially fund the program with emergency funds, but it could take weeks or even months. Meanwhile, benefit suspensions continue while the government is shut down.
This uncertainty leaves many like Santos worrying about basic needs—whether to pay rent, bills, or buy food. “I need to figure out how to get money for what I need right now,” she shared. “It’s not easy.” Santos volunteers at a local food bank and is now in a tough position, needing to ask her landlord for a partial rent payment while relying on a food pantry to survive.
She faces additional challenges, including using her benefits to buy distilled water for her CPAP machine, essential for her sleep apnea and high blood pressure. “If I don’t use the machine, I wake up tired and unmotivated,” Santos said. “I need to wake up and do something; I want to get out of this nightmare.”
Others, like Nicole, a 42-year-old from Long Island, also feel the weight of the loss. After escaping a domestic violence situation, Nicole relies on her monthly SNAP benefits of about $994 to feed her three children. “Food prices are soaring,” she said. “Even with budgeting, it’s just not enough.” With her benefits on pause, she keeps checking her EBT card, holding onto hope that funds might return. “Some people don’t have family or cash assistance,” she noted. “What do they do?”
Nicole Branca, CEO of New Destiny Housing—a nonprofit focusing on domestic violence survivors—stressed that around 70% of the families they serve rely on SNAP. The loss adds to the many struggles these families face. “Financial abuse is a reality for many survivors,” Branca explained. They often start from scratch after experiencing control over their finances. “Not being able to put food on the table can be devastating,” she said.
In Pittsburgh, 68-year-old Elayne Masters knows that challenge all too well. Having received SNAP since 2017 after a traumatic brain injury, she depends on the benefits for healthy food to manage her conditions. With just $250 a month, Masters worries about how she’ll pay for nutritious meals if benefits don’t come back. “Healthy food keeps my health stable,” she said. “Without it, my quality of life declines.”
As the winter season approaches, Masters is anxious about rising heating costs and unpaid bills. “If anything breaks down, I’m in trouble,” she lamented. Past experiences taught her to stretch every dollar. She’s already planning meal strategies to cope with tighter times ahead.
The current situation highlights the crucial role SNAP benefits play in supporting families. According to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, in a time when food costs rise and economic stability feels fragile, the ramifications of losing these benefits can be dire. It brings attention to the voices of individuals navigating an already difficult landscape, exemplifying the human impact of policy decisions.
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