By Paul Bean

As the federal government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, Vermonters reliant on food assistance are grappling with uncertainty over their next meal and food banks are bracing for impact. 

The lapse in federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known locally as 3SquaresVT, has triggered delays in November benefits for more than 64,000 residents, exacerbating pressures on the state’s food banks. 

“In this challenging time, Vermont Foodbank’s staff and volunteers are continuing to do essential work every day, while finding moments of joy along the way,” wrote the Vermont Foodbank last week on their Facebook page, highlighting one of their volunteers. “Steve, one of our regular volunteers, shows us what this looks like in action.”

Last week, Governor Phil Scott and legislative leaders on the state’s Emergency Board approved a $6.3 million emergency package on October 29 to cover the first 15 days of November 3SquaresVT benefits. The funds, drawn from state reserves, will deliver half of recipients’ expected allotments via EBT cards or direct deposit, reaching over 38,000 eligible households. Payments will hit accounts by November 7 though the Department for Children and Families (DCF).  State officials warn of potential technical delays in reprogramming cards.

“Do you use 3SquaresVT or are you seeking additional food resources? Here are important updates since yesterday from Hunger Free Vermont,” The Vermont Food bank wrote on their Facebook page seeking to provide information on where people can get food. “Additionally, if you are seeking food help while waiting on 3SquaresVT benefits to arrive, you can call 2-1-1 for information or use our Find a Food Shelf tool: www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/. We are grateful to Governor Phil Scott, state legislative leaders, and the Department for Children and Families for acting to support our neighbors.”

EBT cards are temporarily unaffected for existing balances but new loads have been  postponed causing local foodbanks to report a surge in demand that prompted state intervention to avoid a full-blown crisis.

Hunger Free Vermont (HFV), an anti-hunger advocacy group, estimates that 40% of food-insecure households in Vermont earn too much for SNAP eligibility but too little for stability, a ‘quiet gap’ widened by inflation and stagnant wages.

“It’s important that everyone knows, you can continue using your EBT cards as usual,” said Ivory Enoch, the director of policy and advocacy for Hunger Free Vermont, in a Facebook video posted on October 27.  “All states received confirmation from USDA on Friday that EBT cards will continue to work at authorized retailers today, tomorrow, and after November 1,” continued Enoch.  “At the same time USDA has made clear that they won’t issue benefits for November until the Federal Government re-opens. That means 64,000 Vermonters and 40 million people across the country are living with uncertainty about their 3Square Vermont or Snap Benefits right now. I want to be really clear that this is a manufactured crisis created by USDA, which has the funds and authority to send snap benefits to every state right now, but is choosing to cause real harm to families, to kids, to older adults, college students, veterans, college students, every single one of our neighbors who rely on this essential program to make sure they can buy groceries. Here in Vermont our leaders are working hard right now to make sure families can meet their food and heating needs in November.”

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Forty-three percent of all federal funding sent to Vermont is for Medicaid, and about one in 10 Vermonters receives SNAP benefits.  In Vermont, where roughly one in 10 residents depends on the program and the average household receives about $356 monthly. Officials estimate Vermont could face a $12 million hole for November alone if federal dollars do not resume soon.

“While the Vermont state government works to ensure Vermonters have their food needs met in November in the lapse of federal 3SquaresVT benefits, we know that local food shelves and food pantries are stepping up to make sure our neighbors have the food they need,” writes Hunger Free Vermont on their Facebook page. “Please consider donating or volunteering at a food shelf in your community today. With continued uncertainty about November 3SquaresVT benefits, local food pantries are stretched thin. Your support today is more important than ever.

Our partners at the Vermont Foodbank have a tool to help you find a food shelf near you – visit https://www.vtfoodbank.org/access-food/find-a-food-shelf/ to learn more.”

“Now, the heartbreak for me about this is not about politics, who’s on first, whose winning, who has got to make the right move?” said Senator Peter Welch on the Senate floor in a video posted to his X page with the caption, “President Trump is withholding SNAP funding. Folks in both red and blue states will go hungry. It’s totally inexcusable and completely unnecessary.”

He continues, “The politics of this are, ‘do we all want to meet obligations that we have with people we represent?’ Republican families. Republicans farmers. Republican small businesses. As well as their democratic counterparts, are all ones going to suffer if we don’t act. It is totally inexcusable. And it is completely unnecessary.” 

A federal court in Massachusetts ruled Friday the Trump Administration must decide by Monday whether to use a $6 billion reserve fund to pay for SNAP benefits during the government shutdown.

“Our Government lawyers do not think we have the legal authority to pay SNAP with certain monies we have available, and now two Courts have issued conflicting opinions on what we can and cannot do,” Trump posted on Truth Social.

“I do NOT want Americans to go hungry just because the Radical Democrats refuse to do the right thing and REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT,” he continued. “Therefore, I have instructed our lawyers to ask the Court to clarify how we can legally fund SNAP as soon as possible.”

SNAP benefits likely still would be delayed November, Trump said, urging Democrats to end the shutdown.