HONOLULU (KHON2) — With the federal government shutdown seemingly entering its second month, more than 160,000 Hawaii residents who depend on SNAP benefits will soon see that suspended.
“If SNAP households have a balance from October or a prior month, they can still access that balance of SNAP benefits on their card and still use it,” said Scott Morishige of the Department of Human Services Benefit and Employment Services. “It’s just that the ongoing November SNAP benefit that would normally come on the third and fifth of the month will not be paid out, as long as the federal government shutdown continues.”
“We are looking at a longer shutdown than expected,” said Senator Joy San Buenaventura. “Hopefully, we are aware that more people are going hungry.”
As families approach the first month without the funds, state leaders are actively looking to help ease the suffering as much as possible.
“The plan is to scrape together whatever available funds we have in state government to try and feed people,” said Senator Jarrett Keohokalole on what the plan was to help those who depend on SNAP. “The number of people who are not going to have access to their monthly food budget is about six times the size of our local food bank’s capacity, so it’s very disturbing.”
“We’re providing $2 million to the Hawaii Food Bank to allow them to address increasing demand,” said Morishige. “In addition, we also have identified federal funds to start up the Hawaii Relief Program, which Governor Green will share more about tomorrow.”
Hawaii is one of over two dozen states that are suing the USDA on its decision to withhold contingency money on SNAP benefits, arguing that the federal government has a legal obligation to maintain funding for food stamps.
“The whole thing is very frustrating, when there’s $5 billion in contingency money at the federal level that the Trump administration is basically just holding hostage,” said Senator Keohokalole.
“I am disappointed that the federal administration isn’t far more proactive,” said Senator Buenaventura. “Like our governor mediates between the Senate and the House in order to push budgetary items that is necessary for the public good, the president also has the power as a mediator to ensure that the shutdown ends by mediating any conflicts. And that does not look like it’s happening.”
With no end in sight for the federal government shutdown, state senate members are encouraging that the information about some of these impacts needs to be shared with the public before it’s too late.
“People consume information in lots of different ways, so it’s important for us to get the message out to as many people as possible in as many languages as possible on as many platforms as possible,” said Senator Keohokalole.
“When you can’t eat, then there’s nothing else more important or critical. When your kids can’t eat, you’re in an emergency situation, you’re in a crisis, and so we should be treating it that way,” he added.
Resources on Food Information
- SNAP Outreach Providers
- Different providers contracted with the DHS statewide to conduct outreach to households eligible for SNAP benefits, and providing assistance with referrals to community food resources.
- Aloha United Way 2-1-1
- SNAP outreach provider which maintains a database to provide referrals to community food resources.
- Hawai’i Foodbank
- Service to O’ahu and Kauai’i
- O’ahu: 808-836-3600
- Kauai’i: 808-482-2224
- Service to O’ahu and Kauai’i
- Hawaii Island Food Basket
- Food bank resource for Hawaii Island
- 808-933-6030
- Food bank resource for Hawaii Island
- Maui Food Bank
- Food bank resource for Maui
- 808-243-9500
- Food bank resource for Maui
Additional information and updates can be found here on the DHS website.