Stephanie Green, who lives in Bandera, has zero SNAP benefits. But she’s keeping hopeful for a portion of her $300 to hit her account later this month.
SAN ANTONIO — Texas families are beginning to see partial Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments for November, following delays caused by the recent government shutdown and continuing legal disputes over the federal food assistance program.
For Bandera resident and SNAP recipient Stephanie Green, the delay has been more than an inconvenience.
“I’m completely out of benefits. That’s the harsh reality of it right now,” Green said.
Without a working car and while managing an online business from home, Green has been relying on community support and food pantries to get by.
“As a small community we all help each other out in any way we can,” Green said.
Green usually is allotted about $300 in SNAP benefits each month. This time, she’s still waiting for that payment to come through, or at least part of it.
“Luckily, I had some stock of rice and beans that I’ve gotten from the food pantry, so if nothing else, I will have that to live on,” Green said.
According to the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, the amount of assistance currently being distributed varies depending on household size and income. Some recipients are receiving only a very small fraction of their usual monthly benefits. It’s unknown how many people have received partial SNAP benefits in November so far.
Meanwhile, a number of nonprofit organizations have stepped up to fill the gap. On San Antonio’s South Side, Family Service and the Presa Community Center have seen demand at their food pantries nearly double in recent weeks because of the government shutdown.
“We have individuals that do rely on pantries such as this across the city to be able to help their families sustain and have food on a day-to-day basis,” said Laura Mata-Delgado, director of client experience at Family Service.
Mary Garr, president and CEO of Family Service, emphasized that food insecurity often stems from deeper, systemic problems that need long-term solutions.
“Every body at their heart I think has good intentions. It’s how do we come in ways to overcome the ideology so to speak and find ways to really move together so we can live in vibrant, healthy and supportive communities,” Garr said. “When we can realize a lot of times it’s tied to systemic issues, not necessarily to the fault of those individuals and families, how can we collectively come together to find better ways to address what we see as deep-rooted challenges in our society.”
Family Service’s Presa Community Center is always accepting nonperishable food donations to help keep its pantry stocked.
To learn more about Family Service and the Presa Community Center, go here.
For more information about November SNAP benefits distributed in Texas, go here.