‘We’ll be here’: Across three cities, communities step up as SNAP runs out

October 31, 2025

As the government shutdown enters its second month with no resolution in sight, federal SNAP benefits that help millions of low-income Americans buy food are set to expire on November 1st. The impending loss will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations, including single mothers, LGBTQ+ individuals, elderly residents, and disabled Americans who depend on this assistance for basic nutrition. Community organizations like churches and food pantries across cities including Detroit, Dallas, and Chicago are scrambling to expand their services to meet the anticipated surge in demand, though leaders warn these emergency measures cannot fully replace federal support.

Who is affected

Nakia Middleton, a single mother of four in Highland Park, Michigan, who relies on SNAP and state child care assistance
Approximately 1.4 million people (13% of households) in Michigan who depend on SNAP
More than 430,000 residents in Wayne County, Michigan
Nearly half of all single-parent households in Michigan, the majority headed by women
Over 4,000 members of Cathedral of Hope church in Dallas, predominantly LGBTQ+ community members
Federal employees who have not received paychecks
Homeless individuals and those facing housing insecurity
Phyllis, a 60-year-old grandmother from Hyde Park, and her daughter with four children
Predominantly Black residents of the Woodlawn neighborhood in Chicago
Working single parents and elderly residents served by the Woodlawn Free Food Market
Millions of lower-income women, older, and disabled Americans nationwide

What action is being taken

Middleton is returning to her seasonal job at Amazon, working 3:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. shifts
Middleton is using the food pantry at Love Joy Church of God in Christ
Mothering Justice is connecting mothers to community resources, pressuring Michigan lawmakers, and urging the administration to release emergency SNAP funds
Cathedral of Hope is expanding services and food distribution efforts
The church has released a QR code for anonymous food requests to reduce stigma
The Woodlawn Free Food Market is operating every Thursday, with volunteers distributing fresh produce and pantry staples
The Greater Chicago Food Depository is maximizing deliveries to existing partners and setting up temporary Saturday distributions of prepackaged food boxes in high-need neighborhoods

Why it matters

This represents a defining moment that exposes and exacerbates existing inequalities between different socioeconomic, racial, and marginalized groups in America. The loss of SNAP funding threatens the most basic hierarchy of human needs—food and shelter—for millions of vulnerable people who are already struggling with high costs of living. For communities already targeted by discriminatory policies, particularly LGBTQ+ individuals, the compounding effect of food insecurity creates additional trauma that can lead to homelessness, addiction, and other harmful coping mechanisms. The crisis demonstrates how political gridlock directly translates into empty refrigerators and hungry families, particularly impacting single mothers who make up the majority of SNAP recipients in single-parent households. Once safety net programs are removed, they are extremely difficult to restore, and emergency food response from community organizations, while critical, cannot fully replace the scale and reliability of federal assistance programs.

What's next

Middleton will work her Amazon seasonal job through Thanksgiving and Christmas to help her family survive
Cathedral of Hope will continue expanding services, though Thomas worries the level of need may eventually exceed what the church can provide
The Greater Chicago Food Depository plans to continue its two-tiered emergency response with maximized deliveries and temporary Saturday distributions
Robinson and the Woodlawn Free Food Market volunteers will continue operating and serving their community

Read full article from source: The 19th