"In Broward and Palm Beach counties, those facing a grim countdown to the loss of food stamps range from young adults transitioning out of foster homes to Jews in their 80s and 90s who are Holocaust survivors. "It's not like I can tell them to go get a job," said Marc Hopin, CEO of Alpert Jewish Family Service, which provides social service assistance from Boynton Beach to Jupiter."
"The Alpert JFS is among the growing number of South Florida nonprofit agencies that are rapidly gearing up to provide aid to clients who possibly saw their last round of assistance end with the month of October. In a recent public announcement, the U.S. Department of Agriculture made it clear that no funding will be made available effective Saturday for participants in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or WIC, a special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children."
"The USDA currently has about $6 billion in SNAP contingency funding but says it is reserved for emergencies such as natural disasters - an assertion that Democrats in Congress sharply dispute. The agency also has told states they will not be reimbursed if they use their own money to pay for November benefits. According to The Associated Press, 12% of all U.S. households receive SNAP benefits."
Federal SNAP and WIC funding will not be available effective Saturday, leaving many beneficiaries without benefits. The USDA maintains about $6 billion in contingency funds reserved for disasters and says states will not be reimbursed if they use their own money to pay November benefits. South Florida nonprofits, including Alpert Jewish Family Service, are preparing to assist clients such as young adults leaving foster care and elderly Holocaust survivors. An estimated 12% of U.S. households receive SNAP; county rates are 13% in Broward, 10% in Palm Beach and 26.1% in Miami-Dade. Local officials urge congressional action and emergency funding to sustain safety-net programs.
Read at Sun Sentinel
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