More than one million people in Massachusetts — and about half of the households in New Bedford — will not have access to SNAP food benefits starting on Nov. 1, if the federal shutdown continues.
Even if the government reopens by then, a new federal law will still tighten eligibility on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the nation’s largest food assistance program.
“Donald Trump is the first president in U.S. history to cut off SNAP benefits to people in America,” Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey told reporters on Wednesday, calling the freeze on SNAP benefits “unbelievable.”
“As of the end of next week, SNAP benefits are going to be frozen. They go away,” Healey added. “And that affects millions and millions of people in America and certainly in Massachusetts.”
Healey emphasized the scale of the crisis, noting that the federal government provides about $240 million in SNAP benefits to Massachusetts residents each month.
“There’s no way that the state can make up for that, which is why I urge, along with governors everywhere, the president to do the right thing and unfreeze SNAP. Feed our families.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture warned in an Oct. 10 letter to states that, without congressional action to end the government shutdown, there will not be enough federal funding to “pay full November SNAP benefits.” Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Oct. 16, “You’re talking about millions and millions of vulnerable families, of hungry families, that are not going to have access to these programs because of this shutdown.”
In addition, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed by Trump in July, tightens SNAP requirements as of Nov. 1. It subjects more people to existing work requirements. Able-bodied adults ages 55 to 64 will now have to work, or participate in training, for at least 80 hours per month to remain eligible for food assistance. Before the change, the work requirement only applied through age 54. Parents caring for children between ages 14 and 17 will also have to follow the work requirements to get SNAP. (Seniors 65 and up, and parents of kids under 14, will remain exempt from the work requirements.)
The law also eliminates access to SNAP — formerly known as food stamps — for some legal immigrants, including refugees, asylees, and survivors of trafficking. The new law is projected to cut $186 billion in food aid over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
Healey said her administration is currently assessing what support the state can provide and urged residents to give what they can to local food pantries. She said she will be meeting with the state’s Anti-Hunger Task Force “to talk more with them about what we can do to feed families here.”
Also on Wednesday, members of the Anti-Hunger Task Force met online to confront the potential fallout.
“We talked about how to start absorbing the potential influx of people that need assistance and the impact,” said Pam Kuechler, executive director of PACE and a member of the task force. “Because the impact is further than just the people who need food. It’s also on the grocers, because a huge amount in SNAP benefits won’t come to them.”
Kuechler said concern about the impact of SNAP cuts is growing.
“Those of us that do local work are concerned about how we are going to be able to source enough food to be able to meet the demand, while we are seeing an increased demand.”
Who in New Bedford is most exposed
SNAP is more vital on the South Coast than almost anywhere else in Massachusetts. In New Bedford, nearly half of all households rely on it. The average household receives $323 a month, per the DTA Performance Scorecard.
Liz Wiley, executive director of the Marion Institute, which launched the Southcoast Food Policy Council (SFPC), said the need became especially visible during the pandemic. “I think the pandemic actually shed light on what was an issue before the pandemic,” she said. “And it’s gotten worse since.”
In 2021, the Southcoast Food Policy Council published a food system assessment that highlighted deep disparities in access to affordable, nutritious food on the South Coast. Those same vulnerabilities now put the region at greater risk under the new SNAP rules, given how heavily the area depends on the program.
“It’s all interconnected,” explained Christine Smith, SFPC program coordinator. “It’s like a big bicycle wheel. Food is one of the spokes, along with housing, health care, and all the other pieces that shape how you live.”
USDA data show that more than half of the households in Massachusetts’ 9th Congressional District, which includes most of the South Coast that use SNAP, include a person with a disability, and many also include seniors or children. The South Coast also has lower median incomes than most other regions of Massachusetts.
One of the most significant upcoming SNAP changes is immigrant eligibility. Under the new rules, even some legal immigrants could lose SNAP benefits. According to the latest data from the Greater Boston Food Bank, Hispanic households experience the highest rates of food insecurity at 62%, followed by Black households at 46%.
However, local advocates say immigrant communities make up a large part of what’s known as the SNAP gap — the difference between those who are eligible for benefits and those who are actually enrolled.
“There’s a big disconnect between food insecurity and if people are eligible,” said Corinn Williams, who leads the Community Economic Development Center (CEDC) supporting immigrants in New Bedford. “Some of the folks that we work with never applied for SNAP benefits in the first place, even though they might be eligible.”
Williams said immigrants are more likely to use food banks than apply for SNAP, partly because of technical barriers like uploading pay stubs, which the CEDC helps with. But another concern is having to share information about who lives in the household, she said. “I believe people are being a lot more cautious about sharing information with the government.”
Without benefits, many immigrant families facing food insecurity have only one option left: food banks.
Williams said the CEDC receives a monthly delivery from the Greater Boston Food Bank. On Monday, despite heavy rain, families still came. While distributing food, the organization also conducted a survey. Many families said they had trouble affording groceries at various points during the year because they ran out of money by the end of the month.
“They really needed the food,” Williams said. “That is really going to be hitting our communities hard.”
Bracing for impact
At the Community Food Center on Park Street, an alarming future without SNAP is already visible.
Built with a $450,000 federal grant, the Center opened its doors in 2023 as a grocery-style pantry operated by PACE. Back then, they served about 100 families a day. Now, it’s 150 families a day. In July, the center extended its hours into Thursday evenings to accommodate working families.
“Times are hard,” said Brooke L’Etoile, health and food access director at PACE. “Even having a decent-paying job doesn’t cut it for the food budget and being able to put healthy, adequate meals on families’ tables.”
Since adding the evening hours, the pantry is registering an average of 15 new families each week. Deliveries to seniors and residents with disabilities have also surged, from 65 last year to 112 just this week.
By PACE’s own estimates, nearly three-quarters of pantry users receive some form of SNAP assistance.
“Most members report their SNAP benefits help, but do not cover all costs to feed their households,” L’Etoile said.
L’Etoile is bracing for what happens if SNAP benefits are delayed, reduced, or cut altogether.
“If SNAP benefits are disrupted to the already struggling members of our community … this would turn into a crisis,” she warned.
She’s most concerned about seniors on fixed incomes, residents with disabilities, and working families with children, she said. “I anticipate they will have to choose between a roof over their head and food on the table.”
The South Coast mobilizes
This month, state officials awarded more than $1.8 million through the Food Infrastructure Security Grant (FSIG) to 11 Greater New Bedford businesses and nonprofits, including PACE, Coastal Foodshed, and several local seafood companies. The funding will help expand cold storage and strengthen distribution networks to keep fresh produce and seafood moving.
State Sen. Mark Montigny, who helped secure the grants, said in a news release that the funding will strengthen food production that will “allow residents more access to fresh, locally grown … produce and seafood.”
Kuechler said the grant will help PACE purchase a refrigerated van for its senior delivery program.
“It may also allow us to strengthen partnerships and increase the amount of food we can provide,” she said.
Wiley said the SFPC resumed its food emergency meetings in May — the first since the end of the pandemic. The decision came as concern grew among members about potential policy changes under the new administration.
“Our advisory board members really started to say, ‘What changes are going on? What are we expecting to see with this new administration coming down the pike?’” she said.
The SFPC has focused on both emergency response and long-term solutions. It launched Frogfoot Farm, a six-acre regenerative agriculture project that donates its entire harvest to local food pantries, and Gleaning, a program that collects surplus crops from regional farms before they go to waste.
The council also contributed to launching the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP), a Massachusetts program that adds $20 to $80 in fresh produce credits to SNAP cards.
Organizations are urging SNAP recipients to keep at least $1 on their card; otherwise, funds from HIP cannot be added. It remains unclear whether residents who lose SNAP eligibility will keep their HIP benefits.
“If SNAP goes away, it’s really important in Massachusetts that HIP stays,” said Wiley. Food pantries, she adds, will need to do even more, so that “people don’t necessarily need a SNAP card to get food for their families.”
To find food pantries in the Southeast, check the United Way of Greater New Bedford’s Hunger Commission list. For additional resources near you, visit Southcoast Health’s local resource directory.
Email Eleonora Bianchi at ebianchi@newbedfordlight.org.
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Oct. 30, 2025, to remove an erroneous reference to the Greater Boston Food Bank.
The Democrats are holding the government hostage, officials in the party saying “families that are going to suffer… but it is one of the few leverage times that we have.” It takes 60 votes in the Senate to keep the government open, and Democrats refuse to compromise. The Schumer Shutdown!
Even people who have a well -paying position, or who are financially secure can have reverses of fortune that place them in need of help for themselves or their loved ones. In our country, health insurance is primarily based on our employment. People losing jobs also lose their health insurance.
Medicare provides for the elderly. Medicaid helps care for the elderly and other people in nursing homes, as well as for children, the disabled, and others unable to provide health care for themselves.
Democrats want their colleagues on the other side of the aisle in Congress to reinstate the funding cuts from Medicaid and Medicare as well as the government subsidies to the Affordable Care act which help millions of people to afford health insurance.
The “Big Beautiful Bill” passed by the Republicans in Congress is responsible for these cuts. It also cut nutrition funds such as SNAP and WIC at a time when tariffs are increasing food prices and rents are at an all-time high.
At the same time, this “Big Beautiful Bill” provided for PERMANENT tax cuts to the wealthiest in our country, and it provided for three times the funding of all law enforcement in our country to fund ICE detention centers and ICE recruitment. A $50,000 bonus is being offered to new recruits, many of whom are unvetted and have criminal records.
It seems to me that the Democrats in Congress have the better proposal for the American people, and that Speaker Johnson, who has refused to convene the Congress for over a month now, should call the House of Representatives to order and work with the Democrats to provide relief to the American people.
If you signed a contract in good faith, and the other party to that contract found ways to avoid carrying out important parts of the contract, would you immediately enter into another contract with that party?
In March of this year, Democrats in the Senate voted with Republicans to avoid a shutdown. They believed it was the lesser of two evils and trusted their colleagues across the aisle to keep their end of the bargain.
In May, Republicans in Congress reneged on this agreement by taking back congressionally legislated funds that had been agreed upon by both sides in March. Now, these same Republicans are asking their Democrats to sign another agreement, with the “promise” that Republicans would remedy the health insurance subsidy cuts after the government was back in session.
Having seen “promises” made in March broken in May, Democrats are now insisting up front that Republicans deal with the health insurance issue before they reconvened the government.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
See article links below:
Congress averts government shutdown after Senate passes stopgap funding bill
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/politics/government-funding-bill-senate-shutdown
Budgetary Chess: Understanding the Impact of Congressional Decisions
https://betterworldcampaign.org/budget/congressional-rescissions-and-the-un-budget
One question. Which Party has majority in our government right now? Who has the President, the House, the Senate, and the Supreme Court??? Who is it that is not compromising? I guess you could say Speaker Johnson. He is refusing to bring the House back into session.
It all leads back to the release of certain well-known files.
Well said Jeannie!
Horrifying to realize that New Bedford is so economically depressed that there are that many people who can’t make enough of a living to put food on the table. And to think, the city council is more concerned with feuding with the mayor over petty imagined slights than attracting investment and jobs to the city.
We were horrified too. Did not realize how many NB residents rely on SNAP to make ends meet.
The City Council is not to blame they play no role in attracting or soliciting new companies to the city. Economic Development is the sole responsibility of the Mayor and he has failed miserably in attracting new private industry to our city.
All of the City’s leadership is responsible for attracting or soliciting new companies to the city.
Not one bit of truth to this comment.
> attracting investment and jobs to the city.
thats selfish. Govt subsidies are a sacrifice. Since Americans think sacrifice is moral, they will use subsidies. Ending anti-production regulations, ie, all regulations, is the only way to feed people. Production, production and more production. The US has a massive amount of regulations that decrease production. But mainstream thought says we need new regulations to fix the problems of the old regs. And on and on it goes until business cant get new investment and the economy fails. This is the long run that Pragmattists evade.
I guess maybe greedy landlords should cut their rent to those who cannot afford food. The ride is over. Time to rebalence and talk about real facts.
Why is putting a roof over your families head so expensive?
Just some simple math from numbers provided in the article,
Massachusetts residents who rely on SNAP each month is roughly 1.1 Million people, and the monthly allowance is $323.00 per month.
Why I can’t understand is, why can’t these people get a part time job working 8-16 hours per week? That would net _350-$450 per month to purchase their own food, that would leave more for the 65+ seniors who are not able to work those hours, most don’t even have transportation beyond the bus.
It’s pretty sad that there are so many people in S.E. MA, Who can’t afford to buy the food they need, but there are some painless ways to make sure the neediest quality instead of everyone showing up and getting all they can because standing in line for one hour is easier than working part time and taking care of their own needs.
Many recipients ARE the working poor, who sometimes work several minimum wage jobs and still can not manage with increases in rent, food, etc….So much more to say about this.
Many people using benefits ARE working. They are underpaid. You can’t have rent in New Bedford be over $1,500.00 a month for the most basic apartment and have people barely making above minimum wage. That, coupled with the cost of childcare for the individual working is making it impossible for people to live. Yes, there are subsidies for rent and childcare, but they take up to 2+ years to obtain. People are barely surviving in this city. You are severely misinformed.
Senator John Fetterman D-Pa breaks with the Far Left Liberals in shutdown vote, says it’s an easy choice to put America first.
Governor Maura Healey has spent 3.5 Billion (and counting) on illegal immigrants and she says our state cannot fund $240 million for SNAP benefits.
Has all the money been spent?
The Democrat’s “leverage” is the livelihood of government employees, their families and those programs funded by this short term funding bill of the government.
Adding a Trillion dollars in “welfare healthcare subsidies”, without reasoned debate, to a short term funding bill is extortion, plain and simple.
The “Schumer Shutdown” reveals the callous disregard that the Democrats have for those they hold “hostage” by their actions and inaction.
The following is extracted from the newsletter: Letters from an American
“Yesterday the Trump administration said it would not use any of the approximately $6 billion the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) holds in reserve to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The government shutdown means that states have run out of funds to distribute to the more than 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.
Roll Call’s Olivia M. Bridges notes that this position contradicts the shutdown plan the USDA released in late September. Then, it said: “Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown. These multi-year contingency funds are also available to fund participant benefits in the event that a lapse occurs in the middle of the fiscal year.”
Yesterday’s USDA memo also says that any states that tap their own resources to provide food benefits will not be reimbursed. “
See link to related article below.
USDA says it can’t use contingency fund for food stamps
https://rollcall.com/2025/10/24/usda-says-it-cant-use-contingency-fund-for-food-stamps/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
Notice this part:
“the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds that can be used for State Administrative Expenses to ensure that the State can also continue operations during a Federal Government shutdown.”
The government has the money already allocated to continue aid to states to fund these program, but the President and Republican leaders in Congress are refusing allow this help to reach those who need it.
What Is not said is money residents do have is spent on things like patio furniture and lottery, rather than the food for the family needs. Residents need to make better choices, during covid I provided my neighbors with a few groceries weekly and other and home maintenance and my mechanic toilet paper. Many of them were working during the pandemic serving us and couldn’t get out. Now, if they were home like myself spending money frivolously, (like family members) then I would not give!
One “hostage” situation created as “leverage’ by the Democrats begets another “hostage” situation.
The funding bill is simple and addressed avoiding the situation that has been created by the Democrats….a “Schumer Shutdown” that holds “hostage” the government employees, their families, government programs, etc.
This funding fiasco, created and fostered by Democrats as an extortion attempt, has no personal repercussions for those that vote against this bill. It only inflicts “leveraged” pain on the American public.
The Democrats cannot deflect their root cause blame for this pathetic political maneuver by their US Senators.
If you signed a contract in good faith, and the other party to that contract found ways to avoid carrying out important parts of the contract, would you immediately enter into another contract with that party?
See article links below:
Congress averts government shutdown after Senate passes stopgap funding bill
https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/14/politics/government-funding-bill-senate-shutdown
Budgetary Chess: Understanding the Impact of Congressional Decisions
https://betterworldcampaign.org/budget/congressional-rescissions-and-the-un-budget
Trump is holding the nation hostage.
He could fix this in 24 hours….
He has no reason to.
The correct figure is not 50% it’s less than 20%. But it’s still going to cause major issues with people stealing food to survive. SHAMEFUL
Hmmm…why no mention of the $8 billion dollar “rainy day” fund the state has at its ready to fill this void in the near future. This fact is on the front page of the Boston Globe today?
Our government has checks and balances to allow for rule by majority, with respect for minority. Right now, a minority of U S Senators (including Senators Warren and Markey) believe they are acting heroically by shutting down our government. Are they heroes or sadists?
Heros, saving the healthcare of many. That is the reason why they are not giving in. Perhaps you should pay attention to the real progress the Dems are trying to take care of without hurting medical.
My vote is for sadists. Their “leverage” is the pain and suffering they impose on others, while they remain immune from the results ofvtheir actions and inactions.
Democrat US Senators voted against even partial government funding and too umbrage to funds being reallocated to pay the US Military.
Their reaction to donations to fund the US government would be laughable, however, they are truly upset over this occurrence.
Heroes.
Currently, the US Democrat Senators are willingly inflicting a “leveraged” economic disaster upon government employees, their families, government programs and the American public in general.
US Democrat Senators have blocked even partial government funding bills and decry the transfer of funding to pay the USA military. Donated funding must make US DEMONcrat Senators apoplectic.
Notice that US Democrat Senators suffer NO economic damages from their actions against the public of the USA, who are suffering from their actions and inactions.
No way to hide the blame for this “Schumer Shutdown”.
This was definitely an eye opening article. All this finger pointing and debating isn’t going to help anything. Everyone with a moral compass knows what needs to be done. We need to work together to help our neighbors who are less fortunate than we are. We need to open our hearts and our wallets and help stock our Food Banks. If you can’t give a few dollars, then donate your time. This article has given us all the resources we need to make this happen.
Yes, of course you are right about this. All of us should be helping to fill this need. I apologize for not saying this sooner. It’s just so hard to see a statement that you know is untrue and not respond to it with some kind of evidence.
How to donate for food relief:
The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) partners with 530 hunger-relief agencies, including food pantries, community meal programs, and other food assistance providers throughout the nine counties and 190 towns and cities across Eastern Massachusetts.
https://www.gbfb.org/
Food Pantries and Meals in New Bedford
This lists the locations and phone numbers of local food pantries in our area.
https://whalingcitycatholics.org/wp-content/uploads/st-lawrence-food-pantries-and-meals.pdf
In addition to the above, local charities and religious organizations have web sites where one can donate.
Half? How did who come up with this figure? Are they counting students with school lunches on this. Just how did who come up with this number?