Photo: Suzanne Sausville/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Gov. Maura Healey held a press conference at Nubian Markets in Roxbury on Friday to discuss the federal government defunding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
She said the decision to cut funds for SNAP will cause 1 million Massachusetts residents to lose food benefits, and organizations that provide that food will take a hit to their revenue stream.
“32% are children, 31% are people with disabilities, 26% are seniors,” Healey said. “It’s bad enough that you’re taking food away from people, but you’re also taking revenue away from our grocery stores and our farmers.”
This is all despite the fact that Washington has the money to pay for the program, according to the governor.
“Right now, sitting in Washington is a contingency fund of billions of dollars that the president can use to make these funds available.”
Read More: Zoning Changes Approved For Downtown Boston
Healey felt that despite the government shutdown, food benefits should continue as they have in past shutdowns, as she explained how she knows from experience how hard this can hit families.
“I was raised by a single mom,” she said. “I do not want to see single moms or anyone else in this state and this country suffer needlessly.”
One of those who will be impacted is Soraya Harley, grandmother from Boston who relies on SNAP to feed herself and her grandchildren.
“Losing SNAP would be devastating, the cost of the groceries continues to rise and without that support, I honestly don’t know how I’m going to make it,” Harley said.
To combat the SNAP defunding, Healey announced that the United Way would be creating a new resource called the United Response Fund as an alternative for those in need of food.
“I encourage people in Massachusetts who can afford to, to come and contribute to the United Response Fund to help feed our families, our seniors, our kids,” Healey said.
WBZ NewsRadio’s Suzanne Sausville (@WBZSausville) reports.