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Food assistance

North Dakota Governor Directs $1.5 Million in State Funds to Support Food Assistance Programs

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

North Dakota Governor Kelly Armstrong has directed $1.5 million in state contingency funds to support food assistance programs during the ongoing federal government shutdown. This move aims to help approximately 24,000 households, including those with children under 18, school-age children, and individuals 60 or older, who are at risk of losing their federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1. The state has also launched an emergency fundraising campaign to source an additional 1 million pounds of food for statewide distribution. Governor Armstrong has urged residents to donate food or money to local food pantries to help meet the nutritional needs of those affected by the shutdown.

Key Takeaways:

  • Over 56,000 North Dakotans, or about 28,000 households, are at risk of losing their federal SNAP benefits on November 1 due to the government shutdown.
  • The state of North Dakota has allocated $1.5 million in contingency funds to support food assistance programs, with $915,000 directed to the Great Plains Food Bank and $600,000 to support the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) program.
  • The Great Plains Food Bank will utilize the allocated funds to purchase and distribute an additional 450,000 pounds of food in November, helping approximately 24,000 households.
  • Current SNAP payments to eligible households in North Dakota total about $10 million per month, with recipients with remaining balances able to use the benefits in November.
  • Governor Armstrong has urged U.S. Senate Democrats to join their Republican counterparts in passing a clean continuing resolution (CR) to temporarily fund the government until Congress can approve budgets through the regular appropriations process.
  • The state has launched an emergency fundraising campaign to source an additional 1 million pounds of food for statewide distribution.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 24,000 North Dakotans will benefit from the additional 450,000 pounds of food distributed by the Great Plains Food Bank in November.
  • The Great Plains Food Bank normally distributes over 1 million pounds of food per month, even when SNAP is available.
  • SNAP recipients with remaining balances will be able to use the benefits in November, totaling about $10 million per month.
  • The federal WIC funding for North Dakota is expected to run out around November 10.
  • North Dakota has about 56,000 residents who may lose their federal SNAP benefits on November 1, with 48% having a child under 18, 30% having school-age children, and 26% including someone 60 or older.

Sources:

  • US State of North Dakota Gov. Kelly Armstrong's statement
  • Great Plains Food Bank's website: https://greatplainsfoodbank.org/get-help/partner-food-pantries/
  • HHS website: https://www.nd.gov/hhs/
  • US Senate Democrats' statement (in reference to Armstrong's urging to pass a clean CR)

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