HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- As the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history drags on, millions of Texans are set to lose the food stamps they rely on.
The supplemental nutrition assistance program, or SNAP, is ending Nov. 1, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"My phone rings non-stop. It has been since Saturday, saying, 'Y'all are always there for us. Are you going to be there for us? Can you just give us a little more hope?' That's all they're really looking for is somebody to be a ray of hope of them," Tonya Dixon with Community of Faith said.
There are 435,000 households in the Houston area that rely on SNAP benefits for everyday meals, according to the Houston Food Bank. On Saturday, the program will end.
"We've got a tidal wave of great need coming," Rev. Mark Brown, the CEO of West Houston Assistance Ministries, said. "And hopefully, it won't be, but if it continues the way it is, it's going to be catastrophic."
"Many of those who get a little extra help from food pantries are working hard every day but struggling to make ends meet with increasing costs of childcare, housing, and food," Amanda McMillian, the CEO of the United Way of Greater Houston, said.
"We are thinking of this like we would a hurricane. This is the really large surge," Brian Greene, the president and CEO of the Houston Food Bank, said.
In a press conference on Tuesday, the Houston Food Bank committed to holding large-scale food distribution events at least twice a week for federal employees and SNAP recipients.
Other nonprofits, such as United Way, West Houston Assistance Ministries, and Communities of Faith, are helping with distribution.
"The Kinder Institute tells us that 43% of Houston area families do not have $400 they can call upon in an emergency," Greene said. "Losing a paycheck is very much an emergency and losing a paycheck is a lot more than $400 for most of these families."
Greene said the average SNAP allocation for families in Houston is about $330 a month. They won't be getting that $330 in November.
The Houston Food Bank will even be using supplies usually set aside for hurricane relief to help families during this shutdown.
"There is no calvary coming this time. Normally, after a disaster, the rest of the country helps out the affected community. In this case, we're all in the same boat," Greene said. "Normally, the federal government will step up to provide assistance. In this case, the federal government is the cause of the crisis in the first place."
He said the Houston Food Bank will even be using supplies usually set aside for hurricane relief to help families during this shutdown.
For more information on getting or giving assistance, go here: https://www.houstonfoodbank.org/
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