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Thursday, March 28
The Indiana Daily Student

Food insecurity still an issue despite government reopening

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President Trump signed a short-term bill to end the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown Friday. But the bill only lasts through February 15, meaning relief may be temporary.

Julio Alonso, Hoosier Hills Food Bank Executive Director and CEO, said the shutdown forced over 8,000 Monroe County residents who receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits to ration their money more carefully because February’s allotted SNAP benefits were given out two weeks early.

“SNAP is a lifeline,” Alonso said. “Even temporarily losing that or having to adjust creates an issue.”

Benefits were given early because of financial uncertainty within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Alonso said. 

Debra Morrow, Middle Way House executive director, said many trauma victims she serves are panicking with the money they’ve been given. Some are overspending, and others are being too careful and not eating well. 

She said her biggest fear is domestic violence victims will return to their abuser because they can’t fund themselves. 

“We forget the fear that’s happening for all of these people,” Morrow said. “We just don’t think about it.”

Alonso said he’s relieved that the government reopened and the pressure is off briefly, but he’s disappointed the re-opening is only temporary. He doesn’t want to go through the stress of another shutdown. 

“It creates further complications to a network that’s already strained enough," Alonso said.

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