Starving American Families: Is Food Not a Necessity to Live?

Imagine a family of four who lives below the poverty line. Both parents are working, yet they can’t make ends meet due to both parents having minimum wage jobs. The children are four and nine, but all they know is going to school and being kids. Their family relies on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits because they meet the eligibility criteria. Now though, they won’t be receiving this assistance in November due to effects of the government shutdown. 

Without their basic human needs met, the family is vulnerable. Suddenly, the kids aren’t being fed nutritious meals, but they don’t understand why. 

By Nov. 1, a large number of American families won’t be receiving the financial assistance many of them heavily rely on since the government has remained shut down. Without government services in effect, programs like SNAP won’t be available.

SNAP assists low income families by providing them food benefits, so they may have access to nutrient dense food. SNAP uses Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) in order for families to make these purchases. This allows families to go into stores, choose what they would like and then purchase through the use of their EBT Card.

Families are eligible for SNAP benefits by a criteria set through income, family size and household expenses. This can vary from state to state, depending on the market of the specific state. 

How does the shutdown interplay with SNAP? 

SNAP is a federally funded program administered by the state. The federal government provides money to states on a schedule every month. Due to the government shutdown, states haven’t received the funding for the month of November. 

States have already warned families  if the shutdown continues, their benefits will be delayed or not even come at all. Food banks don’t have the proper resources to sustain thousands of families during this time. On top of this, a large number of children will experience food insecurity.

Research Shows household food insecurity affects cognitive, physical and psychosocial development. At the most basic level, children are missing out on the nutrients they need to grow. When families are experiencing food insecurity, they have a higher predisposition for illness.

The GOP has blamed the government shutdown on the democratic party. They have even taken to making statements on government websites. The U.S. Department of Agriculture stated, “Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund… (SNAP)… Bottom line, the well has run dry.” The issue with a statement like this is how inaccurate it is. Government shutdowns occur when there is no middle ground being met between both parties; not because just one party decides. 

As the shutdown continues, it’s easy to think it is actually saving the country money. Yet, the truth is many already low resourced hospitals, schools and foodbanks are then taking on the load of caring for these families. This causes there to be a need somewhere else. The need for these resources do not just go away. 

To assume food insecurity would just vanish when a government shutdown occurs is unrealistic. 

As the world continues to fight for a democracy, it’s important university students continue to educate themselves on these issues. Regardless if it affects them or not, it affects future generations. 

Food is a basic human right and necessity.

The president speaks on how important and valuable lives are. Then why is it so easy for them to cut a basic need to live? If our government cannot ensure a country where humans are being fed, then there are bigger problems. No child should be starved because congress can’t agree to a budget. Lastly, a government shutdown should never leak into the lives of those who are already in a vulnerable state.