When Tammy heard about the government shutdown and that SNAP benefits wouldn’t be available in November, “I was really nervous. I only had $5 left on my EBT card and was running out of food already. I forced myself to go to a food bank near me. I try not to go unless I absolutely need it because I know that others are struggling, too. I ended up being the 10th person in line, but after me the lines were really long. I was lucky to get the food that I needed. I was just hoping and praying that the government would open up.”
“I encourage people to take advantage of the resources given to them and to try to be hopeful. There is help in New Haven – please accept it.”
Tammy, an active member of Witness to Hunger, is 50 years old and has been living in New Haven for the past 15 years. She has some physical disabilities that prevent her from working in retail and as a receptionist, as she did in the past. She is out of work and has been on SNAP for a few years: “It’s hard for me not to depend on benefits. It’s scary too, not knowing what to expect in the future. I received a letter from DSS outlining the new work requirements for able-bodied people.
That makes me nervous, because I’m not sure what I need to do. I am very appreciative of SNAP, but the very high food prices make it hard for me to budget. Even with that assistance, I don’t have food by the end of the month – everything is gone.”