food insecurity

Refugees and asylum grantees are among those who can no longer qualify for federal nutrition support until five years after obtaining green cards, because of new restrictions in President Trump's budget bill.

The longest government shutdown in U.S. history appears to be near an end. But weeks without paychecks and cuts to SNAP benefits put many Kansas Citians in desperate situations — and turning to local support systems like food pantries, mental health services and utility assistance programs.

After weeks of uncertainty, Kansas released SNAP benefits to residents on Friday, while Missouri plans to release benefits — either full or partial payments — later this week. But the recent Trump budget bill added a number of restrictions to the program.

The administration's appeal to the high court over the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program comes despite new efforts to end the federal shutdown, which would render the issue moot.

In failing to fully fund the food assistance program that covers 42 million low-income Americans, the judge said the government "failed to consider the harms" to people who rely on the benefits. Kansas City-area food banks and nonprofits were struggling to meet demand.

Tens of thousands of Kansas City residents are faced with the consequences of the longest government shutdown in American history. People who rely on food benefits remain without the funding that helps put food on the table, while the area’s many federal workers are furloughed or continue to work without pay.

Propel makes a free app for people on food stamps. Led by Jimmy Chen, who grew up living with food insecurity in Kansas City, Propel is now giving some of its users $50 each to help offset the government's delayed SNAP payments.

Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly said she will hold food drives on her statewide budget listening tour, while Missouri is transferring funding to provide meals to seniors.

About 1 in 8 U.S. residents get an average of $187 a month per person in the food assistance known as SNAP. For the first time, the Trump administration stopped the payments due at the beginning of the month.

Despite the federal government shutdown, Missourians on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children will be able to redeem their benefits during the month of November. But state officials are unsure how long these benefits will remain available.

Missouri is transferring over $10 million in funding to feed seniors and $5 million to go to food banks. Federal food benefits won't be distributed in November due to the government shutdown.

As November looms, states are trying to sort what options they can offer beneficiaries to fill the gap in food assistance. Kansas' Democratic governor is suing the USDA for refusing to fund SNAP during the shutdown, while Missouri is telling recipients to stretch their benefits.