When SNAP fails, survivors pay the price

As Domestic Violence Awareness Month drew to a close, many survivors were left worrying how they would put food on the table if the November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments were withheld during the government shutdown. At the last moment, two judges ordered the government to tap into emergency funds and get payments to the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP. While this ruling offered some relief to carry into the weekend, the crisis is far from over. 

The $4.65 billion emergency funds set aside for November SNAP payments are not nearly enough to cover the $8 billion needed each month. As a result, recipients are expected to receive only half of their usual benefits, and many will face delays.

Survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking often grapple with the impossible choice between getting to safety and affording groceries. Many don’t go to a shelter unless they are certain their family will be fed while they heal and plan for a different future. That promise, often in the form of SNAP, is already out of reach for many immigrant Latin@ survivors but serves as a lifeline for those who can access it. 

When a survivor risks their family’s safety, only for their EBT card to stop charging halfway or remaining empty all month, the government loses survivors’ trust. Latin@ survivors already face immense barriers when seeking help. Many fear that systems like courts, shelters, or public benefit programs are not meant for them. Community leaders and culturally specific organizations have worked tirelessly to make these systems more accessible, knowing that everyone deserves the tools to live a life free from violence. 

Endangering SNAP yanks the thread of stability from beneath survivors who are already fighting to stand. Survivors need an open government that keeps its promises – without interruption, without excuses, and without endangering life-saving healthcare. 

Survivors can’t wait. Educate your representatives on how the government shutdown puts survivors of domestic and sexual violence at risk by cutting off food assistance and healthcare—both of which are essential for survivors to escape violence and rebuild their lives. Explain why Congress should reopen the government, fully fund SNAP, and protect healthcare services that survivors depend on. 

Contact your member of Congress now using the English or Spanish toolkit.