Alaska Worker Warns of Crisis as SNAP Benefits and Funding Halt

Alaska Faces Crisis as SNAP Benefits and Federal Support Threaten to Disappear

Photo credit: Member-provided photo

For nearly two decades, Jody Morris has dedicated her career to assisting Alaskans in securing vital benefits. As a member of the Alaska State Employees Association (ASEA)/AFSCME Local 52, Morris has observed a dramatic increase in the demand for services such as food assistance, Medicaid, and temporary cash support over the years.

"When I started in 2007, our case load was about 300 families," Morris reflects. "After the recession, we saw a huge rise in applicants. And we are continuing to see this rise. If you divided it up between staff, your case load would be 9,000 families per worker."

The rising need for aid in Morris's community means she often works an additional 15 to 20 hours weekly to connect people with essential resources like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "Disabled individuals. Parents who can’t keep up with the food costs. Homeless individuals. Everybody. Food insecurity doesn’t discriminate," she says.

As the cost of living continues to climb, Morris emphasizes the importance of benefits like SNAP in helping families avoid financial disaster, especially in Alaska, where food costs are notoriously high. "When you can’t afford food, you can’t afford to pay to keep the heat up — which is a pretty important bill here in Alaska," she explains.

However, starting November 1, funding for SNAP, which assists 42 million Americans, will be cut due to a government shutdown. This will also affect Head Start programs that provide early education for low-income families. This situation unfolds as the administration and Congress struggle to reach an agreement on lowering healthcare costs and funding public services.

The potential cessation of SNAP benefits poses a dire threat to Alaskans. "We’re going to have a whole lobby full of people wondering where their food stamps are," Morris warns. "November is the month people really need [food stamps] for Thanksgiving. Food banks are going to be overwhelmed. Churches are going to be overwhelmed. It could cause depression. It could cause suicide. It could cause an uproar. People are going to get desperate."

The timing could not be worse for the state, as earlier this month, Typhoon Halong hit Alaska's southwest coast, causing mass displacement. Morris and her colleagues, already burdened with extensive caseloads, are striving to assist those affected by reissuing SNAP benefits. "Two communities were evacuated as of last week," Morris states. "We had to evacuate them to Nome or Anchorage. Thousands of people are displaced — they lost everything. We’re working overtime to re-issue their SNAP benefits so they can eat while they pick up the pieces. But soon they could be without their homes and without the ability to pay for groceries."

Morris calls on Congress to take immediate action. "Congress needs to take responsibility and provide for their citizens," she urges, stressing the importance of reducing healthcare costs, safeguarding workers, and ensuring the funding of public services.

Engage in advocacy by reaching out to your member of Congress here.