E-Board members include (clockwise) Senator Ann Cummings (D-Washington), Senator Andrew Perchlik (D/P-Washington), Representative Emilie Kornheiser (D-Windham), Representative Robin Scheu (D-Addison) attending remotely, and Governor Phil Scott (R-Vermont). Also at the table in the governor's ceremonial State House office are Deputy DCF Commissioner Miranda Gray (opposite Governor Scott) and Administration Secretary Sarah Clark on the governor's right. Zoom screen shot. CLICK IMAGE TO WATCH
by Timothy McQuiston, Vermont Business Magazine In response to the disruption of federal funds, the Vermont Emergency Board (E-Board) approved a plan today to fully fund a continuation of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program/3SquaresVT (SNAP) benefits and Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits in Vermont.
Since the state's announcement, a federal judge on Friday ordered the Trump Administration to continue SNAP benefits. What this means for Vermont is not yet known.
The 3SquaresVT program will cost the state about $6.3 million for over 63,000 Vermonters. The governor said he does not expect the state to get reimbursed from the federal government. The state must re-program the system to allow for recipients to receive the food benefits via the existing EBT debit cards because it is a federal program. The EBT cards should be loaded by November 7. The governor, and others, had expressed concerns that the existing EBT cards would not work even if the state were to fund the program.
Deputy DCF Commissioner Miranda Gray told the E-Board on Thursday that the state cards would be ready on time and that if the shutdown continued and the program had to be continued, there would not be a delay. The E-Board also moved to convene on November 13 should the shutdown continue. At that time they would consider extending the program. Legislators noted that the two weeks after November 15 would include Thanksgiving.
The E-Board also approved a state appropriation to the Vermont Foodbank of $250,000. The Vermont Foodbank will then distribute the money to local foodbanks to serve those in need.
As for LIHEAP, Gray told the E-BOARD that the state funds already appropriated will be released as usual by November 12 to the fuel dealers with the expectation that the federal government will fund its share of the $23 million program when it reopens.
LIHEAP provides direct payments to dealers to help cover heating costs for over 26,000 Vermonters. This includes regular assistance for heating bills and crisis assistance for emergencies, such as a broken heating system or a utility shutoff notice.
In the meantime, Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark on Tuesday announced that the state is suing the Trump Administration over the clawing back of already-appropriated SNAP funding. On Monday night, US Senator Peter Welch (D-Vermont) cosponsored with Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) the Keep SNAP Funded Act, which would ensure nutrition assistance would continue despite the ongoing government shutdown. More than 63,000 Vermonters rely on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). On Thursday, Senator Bernie Sanders(D-Vermont) said: "15 Republican senators have now joined all 47 members of the Democratic caucus on legislation to extend SNAP benefits during the shutdown. In all, 62 senators are on this bill. I say to Majority Leader Thune: Don't let kids go hungry in America. Call a vote on this bill NOW!" The bill would still need a positive vote in the House, which is not in session, and be signed into law by the president.
“The Republican-led shutdown has created real fear and anxiety for families wondering how they’ll afford groceries or heat their homes. Today’s vote shows that in Vermont, we still believe the government's job is to show up for people, and to work together to get things done,” said Representative Jill Krowinski, Speaker of the House. “SNAP (3SquaresVT) doesn’t just feed our most vulnerable neighbors; it supports our farms, grocery stores, and small businesses. Without it, we’d see a ripple effect across our entire local food economy.”
“The Trump Administration has caused so much fear, anxiety and uncertainty for Vermonters,” said Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Baruth. “Ensuring that Vermonters will be able to buy groceries and heat their homes is the bare minimum. I will continue to do everything I can to protect Vermonters from the impacts of the Trump Administration.”
The approved plan fully funds the first 15 days of the November SNAP/3SquaresVT benefit, supporting the approximately 38,000 Vermont households currently enrolled in the program. The Department for Children and Families' (DCF) Economic Services Division (ESD) will distribute funds to recipients' current EBT cards on or before November 7th. The plan also approves $250,000 to the Vermont Foodbank for equitable distribution of food to food shelves across the state and ensures the approximately 13,000 Vermonters receiving home heating fuel through LIHEAP will see a continuation in benefits.
“This was about coming together to ensure Vermonters have food on their table and will be to heat their homes as we enter our coldest months,” said Representative Robin Scheu and Representative Emilie Kornheiser who sit on the Emergency Board. “We’re making sure Vermonters don’t pay the price for Republican cruelty in Washington. No one should have to choose between heating their home and putting food on the table. The programs we protected today, SNAP (3SquaresVT) and LIHEAP, are about stability, dignity, and survival for thousands of Vermonters. We’re proud that our state came together to act quickly and collaboratively in this moment of uncertainty.”
“The Trump Administration and the Republicans in Congress are forcing Vermonters to make impossible choices about whether to pay for food, fuel, rent, health care and other basic needs,” said Senator Andrew Perchlik, Chair of the Senate Committee on Appropriations and member of the E-Board. “Vermont legislators will continue to do everything we can to support Vermonters in these uncertain times.”
Governor Scott said after the E-Board quickly approved the funding that, "Thank you all for all your good work. I appreciate the collaboration on this in particular and maybe it can an example."
Afghans and Refugees
Separately from the EBT funding, the state is giving U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants (USCRI) and the Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC) some temporary funds so that these organizations can provide some cash assistance for food.
Molly Gray, Executive Director, of the Vermont Afghan Alliance, told Vermont Biz: "This is a short-term, band-aide type solution. The state has removed immigrants, some of whom incorrectly so, from SNAP. We would encourage the state to keep some immigrants on SNAP but to pay for it through state funds if the concern is the state's error rate."
There will be a hearing on this subject Thursday morning at 11 am in Room 11 at the State House and livestreamed at: https://legislature.vermont.
Hunger Free Vermont Applauds State Action to Protect 3SquaresVT Households Amid Federal Funding Lapse
Hunger Free Vermont strongly supports the Emergency Board’s decision to use state funding to issue two weeks of benefits to all 3SquaresVT households and to allocate $250,000 to the Vermont Foodbank to directly support food shelves and pantries meeting immediate community needs. Food security is a policy choice, and Vermont continues its legacy of choosing it with this decision.
It’s important for people to know that November 3SquaresVT benefits will be delayed. The state has stepped in to cover the lapse in federal funding by issuing 50% of each household’s monthly benefit amount, but the state needs time to reprogram its systems to load these funds, so benefits will not be available on the usual schedule.
According to DCF, 50% of your usual monthly amount will be available by November 7. If the lapse in federal funding continues, the state will reconvene on November 13 to determine next steps and will plan to issue the remaining 50% of benefits if needed. If you still have funds on your EBT card from previous months, those can be used as normal.
Hunger Free Vermont decries the inaction of the USDA to issue federal SNAP funds to the 40 million Americans enrolled in the program. We applaud Vermont leaders for stepping up to fill this gap, but our federal government has a fundamental responsibility to meet its citizens basic needs and no state should be scrambling because of federal inaction.
Two-thirds of the federal money needed to fund November benefits for all 40 million Americans is available to USDA right now, through a contingency fund. There are other funds that USDA can legally tap to cover the rest of the benefits, but they are choosing not to do this. We commend Attorney General Clark and Governor Scott for sending a clear message by joining 24 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the USDA: withholding SNAP benefits is inhumane and illegal.
The bottom line is that this has been and will continue to be an unprecedented and deeply stressful time for families across Vermont. 10% of our state population who expected to have reliable access to 3SquaresVT benefits to buy groceries will not receive those on time–this impacts every single 3SquaresVT participant, most of whom are older adults, people with disabilities, and children. Thanks to the leadership and action of State Legislative leaders, members of the Emergency Board, and Governor Scott’s administration, some relief will come to families next week.
For individuals and businesses who have the time and ability to support local food shelves and pantries, we encourage you to act now. Many families are beginning to pay heating bills, did not plan for a delay in receiving their benefits, and simply do not have the money to stretch their budgets right now. As a result, many food shelves urgently need food donations and may not have time to use cash donations to purchase groceries. If you can drop off food at your local food shelf, please do. If that’s not possible, a financial contribution still provides critical support. And if you’re unable to give food or funds, you can still make a meaningful difference by sharing this information with your community—on social media, by email, or on Front Porch Forum. Hunger Free Vermont will continue to share timely updates at hungerfreevt.org and on Instagram at instagram.com/hungerfreevt.
For more information about:
- SNAP/3SquaresVT please visit: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/3SquaresVT
- LIHEAP please visit: https://dcf.vermont.gov/benefits/fuel
- Emergency Board, please visit: https://aoa.vermont.gov/Emergency-Board
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