This year’s recent government shutdown was the longest federal shutdown in American history, and among the disruptions was a large delay and reduction in SNAP benefits for families facing food insecurity during the month of November.
Our community mobilized quickly, and a handful of generous donors raised $15,000 to establish a direct aid fund to provide one time emergency funds to affected Bridge Program families who had recently moved out of Raphael House. We are so grateful for our community’s quick response and overwhelming desire to support families facing food insecurity.
Our Bridge Program, where we stay connected with families until their youngest child turns 18, ensures that we can be there during the times and moments when they need support most. Raphael House is dedicated to providing services and resources that truly help families maintain permanent housing and long-term stability, and this direct aid fund is one of the many ways we continue to support our Bridge families.
The Raphael House team initially worked to prioritize families living in counties that were not offering SNAP replacement programs. Over the course of the following weeks, federal and state-level changes to the benefit reinstatement process created new, alternative needs. Since then, we have shifted to primarily aiding families earning less than $2,000 per month and experiencing pregnancy, chronic illness, or disability as the first tier of prioritization.
We launched the application for food assistance on November 5th, and within the first week, we received 52 applications from families, and all 52 of these families have received assistance. Our goal is to give families payments starting at $150, with accommodations for increased amounts depending on the size of the family.
For families living on less than $2,000 per month, a one-time gift of $150 or more is not a small gesture. It can mean groceries for a week, transportation to medical appointments, or keeping up with essential bills. These direct payments offer immediate relief at a moment when even a short delay in SNAP benefits can jeopardize a family’s stability.
The $15,000 raised by our community will go a long way in creating a meaningful bridge to sustainability for families navigating low income, pregnancy, chronic illness, or disability. Your generosity helps ensure that parents can continue caring for their children without having to choose between food, rent, or health.
Raphael House is committed to supporting our families in both our Residential Shelter, and in our Bridge Program for families who have moved out of Raphael House. In response to this recent development in SNAP benefits, we are hoping to continue distributing this fund with direct aid to support families with any emergency bills (medical, incidental, school-related, etc.) that may arise.
As always, Raphael House could not exist without the robust support of our community. Gifts to Raphael House are more than just donations, they are affirmations of our continued pursuit of stability and dignity for our families.
Back to Blog