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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Nearly 1,800 formerly homeless Arizonans could be at risk of losing shelter as the Trump administration seeks a major overhaul of federal funding for homelessness programs. -
FEMA has awarded about $700,000 to Arizona and the Havasupai Tribe to fund hazard mitigation projects. The money came from a program the federal agency had nixed but was reinstated by the courts earlier this year. -
Phoenix households cut from SNAP can apply for a $600 credit toward their APS or SRP electric bill and $100 for gas or public transportation. -
Planned Parenthood Arizona clinics are once again providing care for patients insured through Medicaid. Services for Medicaid patients had been on pause since September. -
The U.S. Agriculture Department says Arizona’s error rate for food stamp applications was 10.8%; that’s higher than the national rate of 10.6%. If that number doesn’t come down, it’ll cost the state in penalties, thanks to provisions in the "Big Beautiful Bill Act."
