SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — William Templar, a SNAP recipient, has been on the streets for over a year and he says the 42 day government shutdown has left him and others struggling to put food on the table.
“Nobody has any food stamps. It’s really really really hard.” said Templar.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: Food bank lines surge as shutdown nears end
Dylan van Breda: William Templar, who relies on food stamps through the federal SNAP program, says he’s noticed a surge of people waiting for food assistance since the government shutdown 42 days ago.
William Templar: I just recently went to the First Baptist Church. They give out a food pantry. They’re supposed to be open for an hour to an hour and a half to hand out food. They were open for 25 minutes and ran out.
van Breda: Gov. Kathy Hochul says she is directing state agencies to issue full food stamp benefits for November. But the Trump administration responded by demanding states immediately undo full SNAP payments to hungry families, threatening harsh fines to those that don’t comply.
Templar: Donald Trump says he says he released millions of dollars for the food pantries. I don’t see it. I don’t see it at all. So I don’t know if somebody’s got their hand in the cookie jar or what.
van Breda: The Senate finally has the votes to reopen the government after the longest shutdown in U.S. history. However, Onondaga County residents are still struggling more than ever, and the Samaritan Center, a food pantry in downtown Syracuse, says that their lines have grown substantially since the shutdown started.
Joelle Harleston: We serve about 600 people every single day. And we’re anticipating if things don’t change here soon, about a 50% increase.
van Breda: With the end to the shutdown in sight, relief is coming soon for those on SNAP. However, New Yorkers with health insurance plans covered by the Affordable Care Act will soon see their insurance premiums potentially more than double due to expiring subsidies enacted during the pandemic, which is a major point of contention between Senate Democrats and Republicans, exacerbating the already dire hunger crisis for many New Yorkers, who will now have less money in their pockets.
Templar: There’s quite a few people in here that are going to these little stores and whatnot, and they’ll actually steal, steal some food. It’s not that they want to do this stuff. They’re doing it because they don’t have the resources everybody else does.
van Breda: At the Samaritan Center in downtown Syracuse. Dylan van Breda, NCC News.
Gov. Kathy Hochul announced that she has directed state agencies to pay out full SNAP benefits Nov. 7., after a court ruling forced the Trump administration’s hand to pay the benefits that it was withholding from states, claiming that those funds wouldn’t be paid until after the shutdown ended.
Following Hochul’s announcement, the USDA put out a memo late Saturday claiming that states did not have the authority to give out full SNAP benefits, and that states needed to undo full payments, after a Supreme Court emergency ruling that paused decisions from lower courts.
Templar says that he often goes to food pantries, and when he has leftover to give, he gives it to others who are struggling. But recently, he said he’s noticed the amount of people in need of food assistance has surged drastically.
“I just recently went to the First Baptist Church,” Templar said. “They’re supposed to be open for an hour to an hour and a half to hand out food. They were open for 25 minutes and ran out.”
The Samaritan Center is a soup kitchen in downtown Syracuse serving hot meals to guests every day. Joelle Harleston, the chief development officer, said that she has noticed a 50% increase in foot traffic since the shutdown started, and warned of an even more dire situation if things don’t improve.
“We serve about 600 people every single day and we’re anticipating, if things don’t change soon, about a 50% increase.” said Harleston.
Eight Senate Democrats have joined Republicans, crossing a major hurdle toward reopening the government amid the longest shutdown in U.S. history. This spells good news for people like Templar.
However, the core aspect of Democrats’ argument throughout this shutdown, the extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies enacted during the pandemic, remains in question. Already, those on ACA health care plans are starting to see their premiums increase. Some reports show insurance premiums are more than doubling.
This will only lead to greater effects on hungry New Yorkers who are already struggling, according to Harleston
“We are dealing with guests who have razor thin margins to work with,” Harleston said. “It’s the choice between rent or groceries or medicine, and it’s really difficult for them to get medical assistance as it is.”
Templar said he wishes that the government was not so harsh on those in need.
“There’s quite a few people in here that are going to these little stores and whatnot, and they’ll actually steal some food,” said Templar. “It’s not that they want to do this stuff. They’re doing it because they don’t have the resources everybody else does.”