Min. Dale Edwards Executive Director Call and Post
The ongoing federal government shutdown, now in its fifth week, has hit home in Cleveland — where thousands of families who rely on monthly SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits are bracing for an abrupt halt in food assistance starting in November.
With Congress deadlocked over federal spending, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has warned that without immediate action, Ohio’s SNAP funds will run dry within days. State officials say benefits for more than 1.4 million Ohioans — including nearly 180,000 in Cuyahoga County alone — could be delayed or suspended.
“The clock is ticking,” warns state official
Ohio Department of Job and Family Services (ODJFS) Director Matt Damschroder said contingency funds used to pay October benefits are exhausted. “If Congress doesn’t act by the end of the week,” he warned, “we cannot guarantee full SNAP payments for November.”
That statement has set off waves of concern across Cleveland neighborhoods already struggling under inflation, high grocery prices, and rising utility costs.
Families on edge
At the Glenville Recreation Center, parents lined up to ask questions during a community briefing Monday evening. Many left more anxious than reassured.
“We depend on that card every month to feed our kids,” said Tonya Lewis, a mother of three from the city’s East Side. “If they cut that off, I don’t know what we’ll do. We’re already stretching everything we have.”
Food banks, churches, and shelters across Greater Cleveland are preparing for what some are calling an “avalanche of need.
The Greater Cleveland Food Bank, which already serves over 400,000 people monthly, says it is now stockpiling supplies and bracing for record demand.
“When SNAP gets disrupted, we feel it first,” said President and CEO Kristin Warzocha. “We’re preparing for longer lines, but our resources can only stretch so far.”
Local economy at risk
SNAP benefits do more than feed families — they inject millions of federal dollars into Cleveland’s economy each month. Local grocers, corner stores, and produce markets — especially in food-desert neighborhoods — could lose a critical revenue stream if the federal freeze continues.
“If benefits stop, we lose customers overnight,” said James Moore, owner of a small market in Collinwood. “It’s not just the families that hurt. It’s the whole neighborhood.”
Shutdown politics leave Cleveland caught in the middle
The shutdown began October 1 after lawmakers in Washington failed to agree on a federal spending plan. While political leaders trade blame, Clevelanders are feeling the consequences firsthand.
Mayor Justin M. Bibb called the potential SNAP stoppage “an unacceptable failure of leadership” and urged Congress to “find common ground before families in cities like Cleveland pay the price.”
Faith community steps in
Local churches and ministries are preparing emergency response plans.
At Olive Grove Missionary Baptist Church, volunteers spent the weekend assembling food boxes.
“This is when faith meets reality,” said Rev. Charles Pritchett. “We can preach hope, but we’ve also got to hand out bread.”
Cleveland’s faith leaders say they’ll continue to fill the gap — but warn that charity cannot replace federal support.
What comes next
Unless Congress passes a funding measure by November 1, ODJFS says no new SNAP deposits will be made to Ohio EBT cards for the month.
The agency is advising residents to budget October benefits carefully and watch for updates via the state’s “Ohio Benefits” portal.
If the impasse continues, advocates fear the crisis could mirror 2019’s shutdown, when some Ohio households went more than six weeks without benefits.
“We can’t let politics starve people,” said Cleveland Councilman Kevin Conwell, who represents the Glenville area. “This is about food, dignity, and survival.”
A city waiting and praying
For now, Clevelanders are holding their breath — and their grocery lists — hoping for resolution before the first week of November.
“It’s not just about food,” said Tonya Lewis quietly, watching her children play outside the rec center. “It’s about knowing that somebody in Washington still cares.”
