SNAP & Heating Assistance Disrupted in Upstate New York Amidst Federal Shutdown
A recent federal government shutdown has created hardship for residents of upstate New York, impacting programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP, also known as HEAP).
Governor kathy Hochul responded to the disruption by ordering state agencies to fully fund SNAP benefits for the approximately 3 million New Yorkers enrolled in the program this month. hochul criticized the withholding of funds as “senseless and un-American,” aiming to have benefits available by the following day.
The shutdown also forced a temporary pause to LIHEAP, which assists low-income households with heating and cooling costs. This is notably concerning as winter approaches and energy prices rise. Tens of thousands of households in northern New York rely on federal HEAP subsidies to afford fuel.
Florence Wright, a resident 40 miles south of the Canadian border and a HEAP recipient, expressed worry about affording fuel oil, stating, “I mean, we burn fuel oil. What are we going to do if the heat don’t go thru? You know, one tank of fuel is half of our income a month.”
The situation highlights a complex dynamic in the region, which leans politically conservative and heavily supported Donald Trump in the last election. While many residents depend on government assistance, some, like Pat Vaughn, a Trump supporter encountered at a food pantry in Saranac Lake, believe in self-reliance. Vaughn stated, “I conserve, and I save, and I can.I home can. I do all kinds of stuff. I don’t wait for handout. I mean, I’m here looking to see what’s there, you know, but I normally just do my own thing.”
others, like James Burton, also from Saranac Lake, are frustrated with the federal government’s priorities. Burton suggested reallocating funds from projects like White House renovations to support struggling communities,saying,”If they stopped building the ballroom and put that money into the community,especially communities like this,we would be OK.”
While local and state organizations are attempting to fill the gap, the loss of federal funding remains a significant challenge for those relying on these vital programs.
