MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) urges lawmakers and governors in the Deep South to take emergency action to prevent a lapse in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits as the federal government shutdown persists. As early as Nov. 1, many SNAP recipients will lose benefits and face hunger due to Congressional inaction.
Nearly 7 million Deep South citizens who rely on SNAP are at risk. According to latest data, roughly 1.4 million Georgians, 750,000 Alabamians, 3 million Floridians, 850,000 Louisianans and more than 380,000 Mississippians will have no choice but to rely upon financially strained food banks to feed themselves and their families.
“It is an abomination for the world’s richest nation to allow its residents to go hungry,” said LaShawn Warren, chief policy officer, SPLC. “Political clashes have left the most vulnerable communities at serious risk, forcing families to struggle just to put food on the table. This is a crisis. Congress must put aside partisan differences and act now to protect SNAP and health care and end the government shutdown before lives are lost, and families are pushed into further hardship.”
Although SNAP is a federally funded program, individual states can act to prevent a complete collapse while the shutdown continues. Governors have the ability to deploy state emergency funds and other tools to bolster food banks while pressing the federal government to truly commit to funding SNAP.
“Fighting hunger is a moral imperative,” continued Warren. “That is why the SPLC is calling on the governors of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana and Mississippi to step-in and feed families in these crucial times when the federal leaders in power are willfully choosing not to do so.”
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About the Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is a catalyst for racial justice in the South and beyond, working in partnership with communities to dismantle white supremacy, strengthen intersectional movements and advance the human rights of all people. For more information, visit www.splcenter.org.