Memo to Partners on Food Assistance Cuts

As of November, the government has announced it will halt paychecks and food assistance. Here’s how you can help.

Learn More About The Issue

The Crisis We Face

As of November 1, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—our nation’s largest anti-hunger safety net—will be halted due to the ongoing federal government shutdown. This program provides critical food assistance to over 42 million Americans, or roughly one in every eight people in the U.S.

The effects are immediate and devastating: families with children, seniors on fixed incomes, individuals with disabilities, and working adults earning low wages are being forced to choose between paying rent and putting food on the table.

For many in our communities—particularly those already facing housing insecurity—the loss of SNAP benefits represents the breaking point between stability and crisis.

The Human Impact

When a federal program like SNAP stalls, the consequences cascade far beyond empty shelves.

  • Children go hungry, their school performance and health deteriorating.

  • Older adults skip meals to stretch medication budgets.

  • Working families find themselves visiting food pantries that are already overburdened and under-supplied.

Food insecurity is not a standalone issue—it directly intersects with housing instability, health outcomes, and mental well-being. When food assistance stops, the line between hunger and homelessness narrows to inches.

What This Means for Our Communities

At RENNIE, we work alongside organizations that see these effects firsthand—shelters whose residents now face even tighter budgets, community centers preparing to serve meals to hundreds more, and healthcare partners witnessing the medical toll of malnutrition and stress.

This crisis does not discriminate by geography, race, or political line, though it disproportionately impacts underserved and marginalized communities due to systemic failures. It is a human emergency that strikes at the dignity of millions who rely on these essential supports to survive.

Where We Stand

RENNIE Org remains steadfast in our mission: to reduce systemic barriers faced by unhoused and at-risk individuals through advocacy, education, and partnerships.

We believe that food is not charity—it is a human right. And when that right is threatened, our collective responsibility is to act.

How Partners Can Take Action

Together, we can help fill the widening gap left by the halt in SNAP benefits. Here’s how our partners can make an immediate difference:

  1. Join Our Emergency Response Coalition
    Partner organizations can sign on to our RENNIE Emergency Relief Network, which coordinates food distribution, mutual-aid initiatives, and shelter meal services across city neighborhoods.

  2. Fund or Sponsor Local Relief Efforts
    Contribute to our Community Relief Fund—100% of donations go directly toward food procurement and distribution to families and individuals who’ve lost assistance. (Stay tuned)

  3. Advocate for Policy Action
    Use your organizational platforms to contact federal and local representatives urging the immediate reinstatement of SNAP funding. RENNIE provides pre-drafted advocacy letters and talking points for partner use. (Coming soon)

  4. Share Stories from the Ground
    Human stories move policy. If your organization serves individuals affected by the shutdown, consider sharing anonymized stories through RENNIE’s upcoming public awareness campaign. (Stay tuned)

  5. Collaborate on Educational Outreach
    Help us host community teach-ins and information sessions that connect residents to available emergency resources while amplifying the broader systemic issues at stake.

Our Next Steps

RENNIE will be convening an Emergency Partner Roundtable in the coming week to coordinate strategy, share data, and determine targeted relief priorities. Invitations will be sent to all partner organizations. Formal opportunities to get involved will be announced to our community following this Roundtable.

Closing Thoughts

In moments like this, compassion must become action.
The halting of food assistance is not merely a budgetary issue—it is a test of our shared humanity.

We ask you, our partners, to stand with us—to help ensure no one in our community is left hungry or unseen.

Together, we can sustain the safety net our government has temporarily let fall.