SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — More than 50,000 Onondaga County residents could lose access to food assistance as the ongoing government shutdown threatens funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday in an unsigned message posted to its official website that the “well has run dry” on funding for SNAP. If Congress does not reach a bipartisan budget agreement by Nov. 1, benefits may not be distributed for the following month.
The shutdown has left millions of Americans who rely on federal funding facing financial uncertainty. Furloughed government workers have missed paychecks, and some transportation hubs have reported staffing shortages. Food assistance programs are now among the services at risk.
Onondaga County relies heavily on federal aid. According to the New York State Community Action Association, 13.9% of county residents lived below the poverty line in 2024, compared to a national poverty rate of 10.6%.
Residents living below the poverty line could be hit hardest if the county loses access to roughly $22 million in SNAP benefits distributed each month, according to Syracuse.com.
Some residents said the prolonged shutdown has been difficult to understand.
“I don’t really understand why a shutdown for this long is needed when a general consensus says it should come to a conclusion,” said Emily Ramos, a Syracuse University student and former SNAP beneficiary.
Ramos said SNAP helped ensure her family always had enough food.
“A lot of families are going to struggle,” she said. “It’s upsetting to see that families are going to have to risk better quality food just to go buy more quantity.”
Without SNAP funding, beneficiaries may be forced to rely on credit cards, friends or local food pantries.
Kelly Matlock, a Syracuse resident who currently receives SNAP benefits, said she may need to turn to classmates for help if the shutdown continues.
“Otherwise I’m just going to be either putting a lot of money on my credit card or getting food with my friends,” Matlock said.
She described the shutdown as “embarrassing” and said elected officials need to reach an agreement.
Federal negotiations were expected to continue through Wednesday, according to CBS News.
Some community members have stepped in to help. Skaneateles businessman Jeff Knauss raised more than $130,000 in two days through a GoFundMe campaign aimed at purchasing $150 grocery gift cards for families in need. Knauss, the founder of Digital Hyve, donated $10,000 to launch the fundraiser.
Even so, the funds are unlikely to meet the needs of all county residents who rely on SNAP.
Local officials and advocates say donating to food banks and pantries remains one of the most effective ways to help. St. Lucy’s Food Pantry in downtown Syracuse reported an increase in people seeking food assistance since the shutdown began.
AUDIO TRANSCRIPT: Food benefits at risk
Anchor: For the first time in U.S. history, food benefits are at risk. Hannah Urdanick has more.
Hannah Urdanick: As the government shutdown drags on, more people are feeling its effects.
Snap benefits are essential to low-income workers, senior citizens and people with disabilities. If the shutdown does not end before Nov. 1, more than 42 million people could lose access to food assistance, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
Emily Ramos, a Syracuse University student, said SNAP helped her family afford groceries.
Emily Ramos: “It always got us the vegetables we needed. We have a lot of family friends still using it and still relying on it because grocery prices are becoming so high.” (0:12)
Hannah Urdanick: The shutdown is now among the longest in U.S. history.
Kelly Matlock, a Syracuse resident who receives SNAP benefits, said the lack of progress is frustrating.
Kelly Matlock: “I think that it’s a mess. I think that the Republicans are letting down the American people in a really big way by not allowing funding to happen for SNAP benefits. I mean, one in five children is on SNAP.” (0:15)
Hannah Urdanick: Lawmakers must agree on a budget for the shutdown to end.
Hannah Urdanick: In Syracuse, Hannah Urdanick, NCC News.
Anchor: Thanks, Hannah. Those looking to help can donate to the Food Bank of Central New York.