In the aftermath of federal changes to Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the Michigan Association of United Ways is working to ensure that no one is left behind (SNAP).
Medicaid recipients weren’t forced to renew their subscriptions annually during the pandemic. They’ll have to renew their subscription once more starting on April 1.
Cutting SNAP benefits
Cuts to SNAP, according to the executive director of Marquette United Way, will leave many people unprepared.
Moreover, families in need of food assistance receive money through SNAP benefits, often known as 3SquaresVT. Beginning in March 2020, further perks were granted.
The state claims that nearly 40,000 households have received these subsidies. Perhaps more families are now looking for assistance at food pantries.
Almost a year ago, Sierra Davis of St. Albans began getting food assistance. At first it was helpful, but now it will undoubtedly be difficult, said Davis.
When necessary, she visits her neighborhood food shelf and orders food through Feeding Chittenden. Moving from a hotel to an apartment, Davis and her family are now paying rent while also losing further government food assistance. Davis stated, “I’m going to have to take what food I have and just go grab what I have to and then attempt to stock up.”
Read more: How much retirement benefits could you get if you don’t pay taxes?
Pressure on food pantries
Davis is one of the 68,000 Vermonters who have received SNAP benefits. Even with this assistance, according to food shelves, recent years have seen an unprecedented increase in demand.
The Colchester Food Shelf received 267 clients throughout the months of December, January, and February of last year, according to Marcia Devino.
They saw 100 more patients during the same months this year. “In essence, we get two or three new clients every week. Devino also stated that as of right now, we just have the first six hours of Wednesday and Saturday.”
Devino said their volunteer numbers are strong and they haven’t encountered food shortages over the years, despite the high demand and pandemic-related concerns with staffing and supply chains.
Devino estimated that residents gave 22,000 pounds of food to the organization the previous year.
Read more: Social Security 2024: COLA for the next year possibly as low as 2% or less
