AUGUSTA – Maine Equal Justice, Full Plates Full Potential, and the Maine Center for Economic Policy today called on Governor Mills and legislators to convene a special session to prevent a hunger crisis that looms if the federal government continues to withhold SNAP (food assistance) funding.
“We are deeply grateful to the governor for her leadership and know she’s carefully evaluating every option as the shutdown continues,” said Robyn Merrill, executive director of Maine Equal Justice. “If federal funds are not received by Saturday, the resulting lapse in SNAP benefits would cause immediate and severe harm — to families, to communities, and to Maine’s economy. The Legislature has the authority to use the state’s rainy day fund, which should exist for emergencies just like this. This is an all-hands-on-deck moment for our state government.”
Governor Mills announced $1.25 million in additional funds for food banks during the federal shutdown on Wednesday. The State of Maine also joined a lawsuit this week to compel the Trump Administration’s USDA, which is responsible for funding SNAP, to release contingency funds. That suit continues to make its way through the courts, but advocates warned the emergency is on Maine’s doorstep, and that food banks could not stand in for SNAP benefits.
Anna Korsen of Full Plates, Full Potential said, “Maine is in a hunger crisis, and no food pantry can replace SNAP. For every one meal provided by a pantry, SNAP provides nine. Access to those pantries, which are often open only for limited hours during the week, can also be difficult for working caregivers and parents trying to feed their kids. We demand that USDA immediately release existing SNAP contingency funds to ensure families don’t go hungry. Until then, Maine’s policy makers will need to take additional measures–fast–to mitigate this impending hunger crisis.”
“In terms of how quickly people can get food, and how accessible it is to be able to spend SNAP dollars at a local store, compared with traveling and standing in long lines at the pantry and having little choice about what you get to eat–there’s no comparison,” added Suzy Young, Unemployment Insurance Navigator at Maine Equal Justice. “The disruption to food, which will begin in a matter of hours now, is causing extreme fear among the families we work with, and SNAP isn’t the only benefit being affected. For some Maine families this is all snowballing in a very scary direction.”
Kathleen Anderson, 74, a retired teacher who lives in Fairfield said, “I don’t have extras but I have enough to get by with my food stamps. Now what will I do? I have always paid my rent. I have always paid my [health insurance] co-pays. I go to the food cupboard every month. I run out of food every month. There are neighbors that have less than I do that I share my food with. There’s not enough to go around now, but I still have to share.”
“The Trump administration is threatening to take food from nearly 170,000 Mainers and drain $29 million a month from our local economy that helps support thousands of jobs statewide,” said James Myall, Economic Policy Analyst at Maine Center for Economic Policy. “Let’s be clear: the federal government has the authority — and the obligation — to keep SNAP funded and food on families’ tables, but Maine can’t stand by as President Trump inflicts this harm.”
Nearly one in eight Mainers experiences food insecurity, including one in five children, and almost three-quarters of SNAP recipients work. More than half live in households that include a person with a disability.