Connecticut gets loud for SNAP

Lawmakers must fight for funding before more people lose food

SNAP was a lifeline for Barbara when she fell on hard times – until a caseworker made a mistake on her application, and it was taken away. Because of that mistake, Barbara had to sell her late father’s jewelry to make ends meet.

“The restrictive nature of the application process itself is a humiliating experience for those in need,” Barbara, who lives in Bristol, said. “SB 497 would help prevent more people from going through what I went through, because it would make sure people still had state-funded SNAP when they were fixing paperwork errors.”

Barbara is one of hundreds of people who testified to lawmakers on Tuesday in support of Senate Bill 497, which would protect SNAP funding for those who are at risk of suddenly losing it due to unfair federal budget cuts.

More than 400,000 Connecticut residents used SNAP to help pay for groceries last year. About 36,000 people who used SNAP are expected to lose it before March 31, and many have already lost it because of new federal rules.

The state can take action now. Lawmakers voted last year to create a $500 million federal response fund to fight against federal cuts. About $300 million remains used – and some should be used to create a temporary benefits fund for people who are losing SNAP. S.B. 497 asks the state for a $40 million investment.

Barbara, who has diabetes, has a specific diet to manage her health. When she lost SNAP, she didn’t have enough money to do what she needed to stay healthy.

“Due to my financial constraints, I had no choice but to buy whatever food I could afford; as a result, my health condition has worsened significantly — escalating from merely taking oral medication to now requiring daily insulin injections — all because I could not afford the specific dietary regimen required for diabetics,” she said.

One in six people in Connecticut ran out of money to buy food in the last year. For those who didn’t have enough money for food, about one in three couldn’t afford groceries almost every month.

Marisa, from New Britain, used to be able to stretch her $154 in monthly SNAP benefits for the entire month. That’s no longer possible because of the increasing price of food, rent, and the essentials.

She said she was devastated when she lost SNAP.

“As someone whose SNAP was cut, I know what it is like to lose that food and to struggle because of it,” she said. “I am here because no one else should have to go through that.”

Community members – including religious leaders, farmers, and people who run food pantries – testified about how cuts will hurt, and are already hurting, Connecticut families.

Peter, with the Greater Hartford Interfaith Action Alliance, said he supports S.B. 497 and called the federal cuts “a failure of compassion and a failure of economics.”

“When the federal government steps back from its obligation to care for its people, our state has a moral imperative to step in,” he testified.

Susan Reynolds, with Chicks Ahoy Farm, said SNAP helps everyone.

“This issue is important to me because it affects my senior community, my neighborhood, my city and my state,” she testified. “Friends and neighbors in my senior community supply their children, grandchildren and sometimes yes, even great grandchildren, cash to help them when SNAP isn't available to them. When seniors on fixed incomes help their relatives it can place them in hardship for themselves.”

Carmen, from East Harford, said it was important to testify because it’s getting harder to afford food.

“Life matters,” she said. “Support matters, you know, to be heard. It’s very important to come out and support what we are in need of. And right now, we are in need of food.”

Nashaly, from Manchester, is the second oldest of eight children. Both of her parents work, and so does she, but it’s not enough to make ends meet. She said she was testifying so that people like her are heard.

“It shouldn’t be kept in the dark,” she said. “We need to speak up and talk about the effects that SNAP and HUSKY has had on us, and why it’s important for us to keep fighting.”

The time to address cuts is now – the state can’t afford for more people to lose SNAP when legislators have the power and money to help now. Take action now to tell lawmakers to protect SNAP.