Texas Misses Federal Deadline, Leaving Summer Food Assistance Program in Limbo: What It Means for Families

In Texas, many families may miss out on much-needed summer food assistance. This is partly due to the state missing a federal deadline to apply for the Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) program. However, there is still another opportunity to apply.

This program can provide around $120 for each child to help cover grocery costs over the summer when school meals are not available. In Texas, about 3.8 million children qualify for this aid, which totals $400 million in federal funds. Texas needs to cover $55 million in administrative costs to make this happen.

According to the Houston Food Bank, this issue is significant for the state. In Texas, one in four children faces food insecurity, which can lead to serious health and educational problems. CEO Brian Green highlighted that this affects graduation rates and future workforce readiness.

The Summer EBT benefits aim to bridge the gap during summer break when children no longer get nutritious meals at school. Programs like SNAP not only help families but also boost local economies. Every dollar in SNAP benefits can generate $1.79 in economic activity.

In the Houston Food Bank’s service area, nearly 927,000 students are eligible for the Summer EBT program, which could mean over $111 million in summer assistance for these children.

The Houston Food Bank is urging the Texas legislature to support the necessary funding and infrastructure to roll out this program. Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia stated that it is crucial for the legislature to take action, especially with a $24 billion surplus available.

The Texas Education Agency mentioned that this new program requires ample resources and data collection. They stressed that legislative action is essential for moving forward. They also noted the Texas Health and Human Services Commission is already in talks with the federal government about the missed deadline.

The decision to adopt this program, along with covering the administrative costs, now rests with the Texas legislature. As discussions continue, many are hopeful that the state will act to support families in need this summer.