As the nation braced for the expected lapse in the Supplemental Assistance Nutrition Program (SNAP) on the final day in October, federal judges ruled the government must continue funding the program.
Rulings by judges in Massachusetts and Rhode Island ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use over $5 billion in contingency funds to continue SNAP.
A woman grabs cupcakes off the shelf at the Gladden Community House Pantry on Thursday, June 5, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio.
These rulings follows U.S. precedent which, in the past, has allowed SNAP to continue to be supported by this contingecy funding for the federal program that helps low-income families afford food.
In Ohio, roughly $263.4 million is allocated each month to enrolled recipients. The average benefit is $190 each month.
Prior to the federal ruling, Mid-Ohio Food Collective, the region’s largest hunger relief organization, released a statement “raising the alarm and asking for help” as the organization braced for unprecedented need.
Following the news of the federal rulings, the Food Collective referred questions to the Ohio Association of Foodbanks.
Joree Novtony, the statewide association’s executive director, said there will still be a lapse in SNAP benefits, whether or not the rulings stand.
“There’s no way to issue benefits that would have been issued early in the month on time at this point, but we’re encouraged by this ruling and other actions that Congress has been pursuing that would lead to SNAP benefits being available in November,” Novtony said.
She said it could take between 48 and 72 hours for benefits to be received if and when they’re issued as this process usually happens well before the end of the month.
“We’re unclear about how quickly this will give certainty to families, but we’re hopeful it gives the likelihood of relief to come soon,” she said.
SNAP, which serves one in eight people in Franklin County, has significantly more reach than food banks — for every meal that pantries provide, SNAP can provide up to nine.
Help through potentially unprecedented need
Through the uncertainty, the Food Collective asked for help, including mobilizing corporate donors, asking for additional bulk donations and calling on community members to step up as they are able.
Novtony said it was encouraging to see people, community leaders and companies working to ease the anxiety of their fellow Ohioans.
Columbus City Council, The Columbus Foundation and Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine have also directed funds to provide relief to those impacted.
As of Oct. 31, the nation was five days away from the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history.
In its statement, the Food Collective addressed the $25 million from the state as “timely and needed.” Still, it said, the funds wouldn’t cover the entire need.
“The sheer size of SNAP and the pain of its loss will still be felt until the federal government finishes its work. For now, it’s up to central and eastern Ohioans to help one another,” the statement said.
Reporter Sophia Veneziano may be reached at sveneziano@dispatch.com.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: SNAP benefits to lapse even if federal order holds, Ohio food banks say
