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The nation’s largest food assistance program, SNAP, has been at the center of a political showdown that’s left millions of Americans — and hundreds of thousands of Oregonians — wondering how they’ll put food on the table. Here’s what you need to know: 1. SNAP benefits froze Nov. 1, leaving millions in a desperate situation. The federal government shutdown that began Oct. 1 halted monthly SNAP payments starting Nov. 1. That’s a big deal because SNAP, often called food stamps, helps about 42 million Americans — roughly 1 in 8 people nationwide — and 757,000 Oregonians buy groceries. That’s about 1 in 6 Oregonians. For many families, this program is the difference between eating and going hungry. 2. A last-minute court ruling may have partially changed the picture, but Trump has signaled resistance. Two federal judges ordered the USDA to keep SNAP funds flowing, forcing the Trump administration to use an emergency fund to partially cover November benefits. But here’s the catch: the fund only has $4.65 billion, about half of what’s normally needed in a month. So benefits will be partial and delayed. After the court rulings, Trump said in a Truth Social post that “SNAP BENEFITS … will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government.” But in another twist, a White House spokesperson walked back Trump’s statement and said the government would make partial payments. 3. What “partial funding” really means for families. By some estimations, families may receive only about half of their usual amount they receive. The average SNAP benefit is about $190 per person per month. Many recipients say they zeroed out their accounts in early or mid-October. Plus, loading the reduced benefits onto cards could take days, weeks or possibly even months, leaving families scrambling to stretch what little they have. December also could bring another crisis if Congress doesn’t act. 4. Oregon’s governor stepped in with emergency aid. Gov. Tina Kotek announced $5 million in state funds for food banks to help fill the gap. She also declared a 60-day emergency, which allows Oregon’s emergency management team to respond and ensures the state can restart SNAP quickly when federal funding resumes. It’s a lifeline, but compared to the typical $133 million in monthly SNAP benefits Oregon usually receives from the federal government, it’s a drop in the bucket. 5. Other states are pitching in big — some more than Oregon. California fast-tracked $80 million to food aid groups and even called in the National Guard to help distribute food. Washington is sending $2.2 million per week to food banks. Virginia went further, promising to give families comparable weekly benefits to what they’d normally get from SNAP. 6. Food banks were already stretched thin — now demand is surging. Even before the SNAP crisis, Oregon food banks were seeing high demand. Now, they’re bracing for a flood of visitors, some new, some old. Volunteers and nonprofits are scrambling to keep shelves stocked as families turn to them for basics like bread, milk and meat. 7. Families are making tough choices to get by. Stories from Oregon and across the country paint a grim picture: empty fridges, skipped meals and parents worried about feeding their kids. One mom in Arizona said she’ll rely on food banks more because her benefits dropped from $800 to $400. A man in New Jersey, paralyzed and on a fixed income, said he’s asking relatives to buy groceries for him. For those without support networks, theoutlook is even more grim. 8. Kids and seniors are among the hardest hit. In Oregon alone, 210,000 children and 130,000 people 65 and older depend on SNAP. These are people who can’t easily earn extra income to make up for the shortfall. Advocates warn that cutting benefits forces families to buy cheaper, less nutritious food or go without, which can lead to long-term health problems. 9. WIC got a boost, but it’s not enough to solve the problem. The Trump administration added $450 million to the WIC program, which helps low-income mothers and young children buy healthy staples. That’s good news for families with infants, but WIC is separate from SNAP and much smaller in scale. It won’t cover the millions of households losing food assistance. 10. The big question: What happens in December? The emergency fund used for November could be tapped out. If Congress doesn’t end the shutdown or approve new funding, December could bring another round of cuts — or a complete halt. Advocates and some state officials are urging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to fully fund SNAP now, but so far, the Trump administration has declined to use other money that’s been set aside. For families, the uncertainty is exhausting. Bottom line: SNAP is a lifeline for millions, and while some states and food banks are stepping up, the partial fix for November leaves big gaps. If the shutdown drags on, December could be even worse. Donations to local food banks are playing a critical role. What can Oregonians do? Community members are organizing to help Local residents and businesses in the Portland metro area and across the state have organized to help families impacted by the SNAP freeze. Here are local resources providing food and support: How Oregonians can donate food and more to help those at risk of losing SNAP benefits Here are 18 Portland-area coffee shops and restaurants that have pledged to feed people who lose SNAP benefits SNAP benefits dry up Nov. 1. What does it mean for grocery prices, food workers?
