Agencies that help the poor beginning to feel shutdown’s impact

Oct WASHINGTON The first activity in Minnesota to feel the impact of the federal cabinet shutdown is one that helps enroll people in the food stamp effort Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Activity SNAP Outreach Operation ended Oct the first day of the shutdown The effort run largely by non-profits helps eligible individuals and families access SNAP benefits by providing information assistance with applications and promotion throughout the enrollment process The Trump administration had sought Minnesota for a revised SNAP outreach plan and the U S Department of Agriculture which funds the food stamp campaign did not approve it before the cabinet shuttered revealed Patrick Hogan a spokesman for Minnesota Management and Budget Therefore we have no access to fund it Hogan revealed Funding for SNAP benefits which serve more than Minnesotans was paid out just before the Oct shutdown so states can continue to provide those benefits through the end of the month and maybe even into November But if the shutdown stretches into next month the food stamp initiative could be frozen until the federal ruling body reopens We are continuing to do SNAP outreach but with the state s plan not having been approved before the shutdown began it is unclear how much if any of that will be reimbursed retroactively disclosed Zack Rodvold a spokesman for Second Harvest Heartland a major food bank serving Minnesota and Wisconsin The post Agencies that help the poor beginning to feel shutdown s impact appeared first on MinnPost