DETROIT – It’s a familiar scene along Hayes on Detroit’s east side every Thursday: cars lined up for blocks, volunteers loading vehicles with food outside Second Canaan Outreach Ministry, and neighbors waiting for help.
But this week, the line feels longer, and the anxiety higher.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services announced that the federal government has issued a directive to temporarily stop SNAP benefits for November.
Volunteers and residents say that a federal funding pause, and the broader uncertainty tied to a government shutdown, is already making it harder for families and seniors who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
“We’re real busy. I mean real busy,” said Rev. Charles Edge, of Second Canaan Outreach Ministry, as volunteers worked to load food into cars. “And the line is definitely increasing. Increasing more and more.”
Volunteers at the ministry say demand for food assistance has been growing for months in neighborhoods hit hard by job losses and rising prices. They expect the weekly crowd to swell even further if SNAP payments are delayed.
“It was already a great need for families in the area,” Edge said. “They’re going to cut the food. And the prices of food are going up every week. So, there are going to be more and more people coming up here day by day.”
Metro Detroiters who depend on SNAP expressed worry and uncertainty. Monae, a mother of five, said she was nervous about the coming weeks.
“I’ve got to get out here and try to make sure that I’m able to survive. Because I don’t know what may happen tomorrow,” she said.
Seniors on fixed incomes are also feeling the strain. Carolyn Webb said she was leaning on faith but acknowledged the hardship many in the neighborhood face.
“By the grace of God, I’ll be OK,” Webb said. “That’s just the way I feel. But it’s a lot of people out here that are already suffering.”
About 1.4 million people in Michigan receive SNAP benefits. Local volunteers say that with federal benefits paused for November, the need for local food distribution will only increase.
Neighbors said an interruption in SNAP makes food pantries and community distribution sites critical stops for families who otherwise might go hungry.
Despite limited resources, the volunteers at Second Canaan Outreach Ministry say they will continue to serve their neighbors for as long as they can. They’re urging local leaders and agencies to share clear information about benefit timelines and to coordinate support for households that may face a weeks-long gap.
The Michigan Department of Health and Human Services is encouraging SNAP participants to contact their local MDHHS office with any questions.