Food banks and charities in Arizona are bracing for an expected increase in demand as workers affected by the current government shutdown start to seek assistance.
St. Vincent De Paul’s Jessica Berg says the food bank received an increase in requests during the last government shutdown in 2018.
Coincidentally, Berg said that the organization just launched a campaign called “Feeding Our Neighbors Together,” because they were already seeing a growing need in the community.
"An additional $2.5 million over the next year and an additional 500,000 pounds of food would meet the needs that we’re seeing in the community. Although, now there may be about to be additional need," she said.
Berg also says they are raising money for rent and utility assistance.
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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." -
In addition to refugees and asylum seekers, H.R. 1 ended SNAP eligibility for other immigrants who lack permanent resident status, including survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.
