Food stamp benefits at risk for 1.4 million Ohioans
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More than 1.4 million Ohioans are at risk of losing federal food aid this weekend if Congress doesn't reach an agreement to end the government shutdown.
Why it matters: Local families are being "put in the center of a political battle" and are scared and angry, Franklin County Job and Family Services spokesperson Bart Logan tells Axios.
- Food pantries are bracing for the increased demand but warn they won't be able to fill the gaps on their own.
Threat level: For every one meal a food bank provides, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program provides nine, per the national Feeding America network, illustrating the crisis that's looming.
The big picture: Funding for SNAP, which serves 42 million Americans, runs out Saturday.
- The timing coincides with SNAP changes from President Trump's Big Beautiful Bill that include increased work requirements and a provision removing benefits from refugees and other noncitizens, also effective Saturday.
Zoom in: In Franklin County, about 180,000 people — including around 4,000 refugees — receive SNAP benefits.
The latest: On Monday, Columbus City Council approved $25,000 for the Grove City-based Mid-Ohio Food Collective, in hopes of inspiring others to help.
- The Columbus Foundation announced Tuesday it will send $500,000 to 21 area pantries.
What they're saying: "Until or unless Congress solves this issue they've created, or some big support comes from the Statehouse, we're going to have to handle this locally," Mid-Ohio Food Collective spokesperson Mike Hochron tells Axios.
- The food bank helps supply more than 600 pantries and other partners in 20 counties.
- Its demand is up 58% since the pandemic's peak, amid higher costs and funding cuts.
Between the lines: State Rep. Latyna Humphrey (D-Columbus) introduced a bill this month to allocate state funds to continuing SNAP and other aid programs, but it hasn't had a hearing.
- The federal government says it won't reimburse states that cover expenses on their own.
The bottom line: "As a community, we're going to have to come to terms with what it looks like when America's biggest defense against hunger goes away," Hochron says.