Summit County is tapping into its own reserve fund to cover a portion of federal food benefits lost to the government shutdown, now entering its fifth week.
County commissioners today unanimously approved $200,000 for grocery cards, available next week (Nov. 10-14) to residents currently on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, once known as food stamps.
“When the federal government abdicates its responsibility to folks on something as basic and fundamental as food, I think it is our moral obligation as county government to step up for folks,” county commissioner Tamara Pogue said. “Without access to these resources they simply have no options, and that means they don’t eat. It is absolutely an emergency.”
Summit’s pledge covers 45% of monthly benefits for up to 1,400 people countywide. Pogue says one-third of recipients are children.
This pledge is good through December, or as long as the government is shut down.
D.C. turnabout
There was confusion earlier today for tens of millions on food benefits, when President Donald Trump said on social media he would not comply with a court order telling him to fund SNAP.
Just two hours later, the White House confirmed his administration will pay up, even during shutdown.
When combined with the county pledge, most Summit residents on SNAP will be missing 5% of what they usually get for food assistance.
