SNAP recipients, pantries brace for halt of federal food stamp funding – Chicago Tribune

Hello, Chicago.

Joanna Martínez already spends much of her day worrying about the rising cost of food and how she can afford to eat enough healthy meals to feed her two daughters.

Now the single mother, who lives in Chicago’s Logan Square neighborhood, is terrified as she prepares for an anticipated loss of federal food assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP or food stamps.

Martínez, 36, is among more than 40 million Americans set to lose their SNAP benefits Saturday as the second-longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history continues.

“I’m trying to come up with a plan,” she said. “But I’m still scared.”

The U.S. Department of Agriculture released a message Monday saying no federal food aid will be distributed after the end of the month. Illinois typically administers about $350 million in federal food assistance per month to about 1.9 million people statewide, according to the Illinois Department of Human Services.

“Ultimately, the well is dry,” the USDA advisory says, before adopting a partisan tone. “At this time, no benefits will be provided on November 1. We are approaching an inflection point for Senate Democrats.”

Read the full story from the Tribune’s Angie Leventis Lourgos.

Here are the top stories you need to know to start your day, including the jury’s decision in Sonya Massey’s murder, why Cameo is suing OpenAI and what to watch for during the Blackhawks’ six-game road trip.

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