With nearly 1 million Arizonans going without SNAP benefits over the weekend, one Valley tribe has agreed to dip into its own resources — giving some of its more than 20,000 members financial relief during what could soon become the longest U.S. government shutdown.
The Gila River Indian Community is calling them general welfare payments — one-time $1,000 disbursements for each tribal member age 18 and older — regardless of whether they’re a SNAP recipient. That decision came on Saturday during a special council session called by Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis.
“We want to make sure that, as a sovereign nation, we take care of our members during this unprecedented shutdown,” said Lewis in a message posted to social media. “I hope that this payment brings some peace of mind during this time of uncertainty at the federal level.”
Lewis urges his tribe, just south of Phoenix, to plan for the long haul: “So please, use or set aside for your food needs, to pay bills and to add some measure of economic security.”
Those payments should be sent out to eligible members by Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is planning to restart SNAP benefits, but with the U.S. only providing half the money it usually does in any given month. Still, that $4.65 billion some 42 million Americans depend on is expected to be delayed.
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