ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. — A new report shows House Republicans could cut more than $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program over the next decade.
In Florida, 2.9 million residents rely on SNAP benefits, including some members of the military.
Many of the people seeking help at Northwest Florida food banks depend on SNAP. Food banks are concerned that as the cuts go into effect, the demand for their services will grow.
The report states the current budget resolution that was passed calls on the House Agriculture Committee to cut $230 billion from SNAP — commonly known as food stamps.
Pensacola resident James Showen is a foster parent and volunteers at the Epps Christian Center. He hands out food to locals in need.
“I only get $26 a month from SNAP, just for the two of us,” said Showen. “Anyone who has kids, knows $26 a month is not enough to feed a kid.”
“The cutbacks on the programs is not really going to work,” he said. “It’s not going to help these people.”
Showen says food pantries, like the Epps Christian Center could see an increased demand, if many lose their SNAP benefits.
“We average anywhere from 150 to 200 plus families every Tuesday and Thursday,” Showen said. “Those numbers are increasing because the food stamps and other programs are cutting back completely.”
Michael Ledger is the president and CEO of Feeding the Gulf Coast. He says his organization could see an influx in demand because of cuts.
“There’s other cuts happening and other cuts that are proposed to the Hunger Network of programs and support that we have. Each time you weaken one of these, there’s inevitably going to be a greater demand in another,” Ledger said. “We’re certainly going to see an increased demand in our pantries, mobile pantries and child nutrition sites, our senior feeding programs, etc. We’re going to see an increased demand in those programs, and others I didn’t mention, those programs are seeing proposed and already realized cuts.”
Ledger says Feeding the Gulf Coast sends its mobile food pantry to Hurlburt Field once a month. He says they work with other bases to help service members in need.
“One of the things we work with is military hunger,” Ledger said. “It was about 24 months ago the Pentagon formally acknowledged what was fully understood is nearly 25% of the folks in the military are facing food insecurity.”
“I was in the military,” he said. “I was an E1 at one point so I know how little you make, particularly those E1 folks through E5 who have families.”
The report shows the states will likely need to provide funding to help the individuals and organizations.
“Our politicians need to step up and say, ‘Listen, this is a program that cannot be touched. You have too many elderly people that depend on SNAP because they don’t get a large disability,’” said Showen.
WEAR News reached out to state representatives for comment but have not heard back.
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