I am deeply concerned about the many households in Massachusetts and across the country who may lose their food support tomorrow.
My team continues to monitor the federal lapse in November SNAP funding. The situation is evolving rapidly. Below are updates, resources and information prepared by my team that may be helpful during this crisis.
My district team, Regina Fink (Regina.Fink@masenate.gov | 857-242-1892) and Annie Mazzola (Anne.Mazzola@masenate.gov | 857-207-8738) are available to assist during this critical time and welcome all questions, concerns, and communications. We are able to reach out directly to the DTA and funding agencies with questions.
Latest Updates and the Massachusetts Response
Update, November 10: As the DTA funding situation is evolving dynamically, we recommend following mass.gov/SNAPupdates for the most up to date information moving forward. Feel free to reach out to my office with any questions.
Update, November 7: The Healey administration announced that DTA expects to release FULL November SNAP benefits since the federal judge’s ruling directing the federal government to issue benefits this month was upheld on appeal. Follow mass.gov/SNAPupdates for the latest DTA updates.
Update, November 5: The Healey administration announced that DTA expects to issue partial November SNAP benefits sometime during the week of November 10, following a federal judge’s ruling directing the federal government to issue benefits this month. Follow mass.gov/SNAPupdates for the latest DTA updates.
Today (Oct. 31), two federal judges ordered the Trump administration to continue paying for SNAP assistance during the federal government shutdown. Senate President Karen Spilka issued this statement in response:
“Today’s court rulings affirm what we have known all along: the federal government must follow the law. It has both the responsibility and the means to ensure that no person in our great country goes hungry. I commend Attorney General Campbell for her strong leadership on behalf of Massachusetts’ families and urge the federal government to comply with the law and provide this essential funding.”
Yesterday, along with 151 other members of the Massachusetts Legislature, Senator Brownsberger signed a letter to the U.S. President urging him to transfer available monies to continue funding the essential SNAP program during the federal government shutdown.
In response to the federal lapse in SNAP funding, Governor Healey announced that effective November 1, the state will advance $4 million in Massachusetts Emergency Food Assistance Program (MEFAP) funding to help food banks and pantries respond to this crisis. The Governor also reported that the United Way Response Fund has already surpassed $1 million in donations.
SNAP card holders will receive all delayed benefits once the federal shutdown ends.
For the most current official information, always refer to the Massachusetts DTA Website. The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA), the agency that runs SNAP in Massachusetts, will be providing information to current SNAP recipients via text and DTA Connect.
IMPORTANT: Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) Program Information
SNAP recipients with even $0.01 on their EBT account can access all $40+ of HIP for local fruits and vegetables in November. HIP is a state funded program and is not affected by the shutdown. You can find HIP locations here; please select November in the “month of operation” option. Flyers to post can be found here in English and Spanish (zip file, contains 4 PNG images).
Winter markets in Greater Boston with food assistance
IMPORTANT: Women, Infants and Children Nutrition (WIC) Program Information
WIC and other DTA state programs (EAEDC or Emergency Aid to Elderly and Disabled Children and TAFDC or Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children) are so far not impacted by the federal government shutdown. Apply here for WIC.
MASSACHUSETTS Food Resources
Project Bread runs a free confidential FoodSource Hotline at 1-800-645-8333 to help you find food. Their FoodSource Hotline is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM, and has TEMPORARILY EXPANDED THEIR WEEKEND HOURS to 9:00AM to 4:00PM on Saturday, November 1st and 9:00AM to 1:00PM on Sunday, November 2nd.
Counselors will be available to provide assistance in 180 languages to call or text.
For retailers, there are flyers available online to post containing helpful information concerning the SNAP benefit suspension and Project Bread information in English, Chinese Simplified (Mandarin), Haitian Creole, Portuguese (Brazil), Spanish (Latin America), and Vietnamese.
The Greater Boston Food Bank has an agency partner locator.
Gopuff – Free Groceries and Delivery for SNAP Participants
LOCAL Food Resources in my Districts
Allston-Brighton
- Allston Brighton Food Resource Guide (compiled by the Office of Councilor Breadon)
- Allston Brighton Health Collaborative’s Weekly Food Guide
- ABCD NOC – Greater Boston Area Resource Guide
- Allstonia Resource Map
- Flatbreads Brighton – Starting November 1st, SNAP recipients can get a free small pizza. Offer is for takeout only and does not apply via delivery apps. Call or order in person to apply your SNAP card for a free small pizza.
Belmont
- Belmont Food Pantry
- Belmont Helps
- Belmont Church of God Food Pantry
- Food assistance resources in the area
Boston
- Allandale Farm is hosting a free Farmers Market for people who have SNAP in Jamaica Plain at the Loring Greenough House 12 South St, Jamaica Plain, MA 02130. Thursdays in November (6th, 13th, 20th from 11am-1pm), offering fresh produce and bread.
- VitalCxNS City Wide Resource Guide
- Visit boston.gov/snap or call 3-1-1 to find food resources and how to contribute to neighbors in need.
Fenway
- Fenway Cares (also includes comprehensive mobile clinic)
- YMCA Food Access
- Parker Hill/Fenway ABCD (by appointment only)
Watertown
West Cambridge
- Food Resource Guide (compiled by the City of Cambridge)
Ways to Help
For those able to support, there are several ways to get involved.
Please consider visiting the local resources above and reviewing their donation requests. You can find a Community Fridge in your neighborhood and donate according to their guidelines.
The United Way Response Fund is accepting monetary contributions. Farmers, grocery stores, restaurants, and wholesalers can connect with food recovery organizations like Spoonfuls to donate surplus inventory. Community members can also contact their local organizations to organize food drives.
Cambridge Community Foundation is seeking donations for their Urgent Needs Fund.
If you know of any verified food resources in your area that are not listed, please include them in the Comments section or reach out to our office.
Please share resources and information with friends, family and neighbors.
Thanks for this information, I am so concerned about those who might be affected by the inhumane administration!
All MA pols are late to the game but now are scrambling on board for the sound bites.
First, SNAP benefits are not paid out to everyone on the first of the month–payments are staggered throughout the month.
Second, the UDSA contingency fund “ordered” by two Judges will not be enough to cover the 8.5 billion cost of SNAP for a single month.
Third, under the law the contingency funds can only be released to funded programs. Since SNAP is no longer funded (due to the government shutdown due to the lack of 6 US Senate votes for stopgap funding) the USDA could not legally release the funds.
Fourth, the contingency fund is intended to be used for emergencies such as hurricanes, flooding, earthquake, etc. If the fund is zeroed out (only partially funding 1 month of SNAP) there is no guarantee that the contingency fund will be replenished (due to the shutdown). This can create a much more massive emergency in the future.
Fifth, this is tone deaf to the roughly 900,000 federal workers have been furloughed with many others are working without pay such as our federal air traffic controllers, the billions of $$ estimated to be lost from the US economy, etc.
My suggestion? Our Massachusetts Senators (Elizabeth Waren and Edward Markey) have both voted multiple times NOT to release funds for government programs.
CALL
Senator Elizabeth Waren:
(617) 565-3170 (Boston)
(202) 224-4543 (Washington, DC)
AND
Senator Edward Markey
(617) 565-8519 (Boston)
(202) 244-2742 (Washington, DC)
AND TELL THEM
I LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS–
I (or my neighbor) LAWFULLY RECEIVE SNAP BENEFITS (or work without pay for the government, or denied services)–
THIS IS NOT A GAME–
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH –
VOTE “YES” TO FUND OUR GOVERNMENT THROUGH 2025 WHILE DEBATING HEALTHCARE FUNDING AND TAX CREDITS
…AND THEN WISH THEM A HAPPY THANKSGIVING
Thanks!
…while debating healthcare funding and tax credits.
I can just imagine how that debate would go….
Enough is Enough!
Our Massachusetts Senators (Elizabeth Waren and Edward Markey) have both voted multiple times NOT to release funds for government programs.
CALL
Senator Elizabeth Waren:
(617) 565-3170 (Boston)
(202) 224-4543 (Washington, DC)
AND
Senator Edward Markey
(617) 565-8519 (Boston)
(202) 244-2742 (Washington, DC)
AND TELL THEM
I live in Massachusetts–
I (or my neighbor) lawfully (receive snap benefits, lack a paycheck, denied government services, etc.)–
This is not a game–
Enough is enough –
Vote “yes” to fund our government through 2025 while debating healthcare funding and tax credits
…and then wish them a happy thanksgiving
Thanks!
Good idea. I’ve written them many times to ask to stop the Democrats from leveraging antisemitism and antidemocratic and un-Constitutional policies.
All this time we’ve just needed five Democrats to pass the clean CR.
Obamacare is broken and flawed. The tax grab of making the Covid emergency funding permanent is only the first infusion of life support for the ACA.
Thank you Republicans for holding the line against socialism.
I’d like snap benefits to continue, without a doubt. I suppose long term I would like to learn why 42 million Americans on dependant on the governmet. You know, teach a man to fish. Also, imagine if the legislature aloowed the audit that 72% of MA voters want? I’ll bet we could save enough money to feed the country for a year.
For many low-income households, it’s because they include people who can’t work due to disability or age (elders or children). But in many cases, it’s also because their employers don’t pay living wages (sadly, especially those in the food industry). See: https://blog.ucs.org/alice-reznickova/how-big-food-corporations-take-advantage-of-snap/ & https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-21-45.pdf
As for Barbara’s comments – if “voting to fund the government” means letting healthcare subsidies expire, many, many more people are going to struggle to put food on the table. That short-term “fix” is not worth the longer-term costs.
The first order of business is get the eligible fed, we can worry about defeating/jailing Trump later
Well said.
Or conversely, highlight the President’s accomplishments on his recently concluded trip to the ASEAN summit (such as stabilizing relations with China (soybeans, rare earth metals, tariff relief)). Meanwhile the Dems do their darndest to wreck the US economy (just to prove they’re right) and, with the help of the media, work harder than they have all year to whip up massive panic…
Stop clamoring to dig deeper into American’s pockets and start clamoring to bring/hold prices down. We’re attacking the problem at the wrong end. Welfare created dependency and distortions throughout the system and corrupts the human spirit. Just like the corporate welfare of the ACA SNAP food stamps short circuit the and sap the fight against high prices and health food access, and are a corporate subsidy
Hey! The mass.gov home page no longer violates the Hatch Act!!!
Not sure the current message isn’t a bit fraught though.