OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — State leaders are trying to help offset the impact of the government shutdown on Oklahomans. This includes allocating $1 million each week to food banks and utilizing $72,000 for a software update to be able to place non-federal money on EBT cards.
A Contingency Review Board with the House Speaker, Senate Pro Tem and Governor as voting members met on Monday evening to vote on items in an effort to provide relief to the current situation surrounding SNAP benefits, which were suspended as of November 1 due to the government shutdown.
The nonprofit Hunger Free Oklahoma partners with government agencies, nonprofits and others to help connect people to food resources.
“The amount going to food banks in particular doesn’t really address the issue that comes with not having SNAP, right. So, grateful and want to see more,” said Chris Bernard, Hunger Free Oklahoma President and CEO. “The system change, the investment in allowing the state to put money onto the EBT card is great.”
“I mean it’s something that actually like there’s been discussions about universal benefits in our state for a long time, right, like making easier to access, and frankly had we done those things at some point in the legislative process that already would have been the case. We wouldn’t need to make this investment, but making this investment means we can be prepared for future disasters like this,” he said.
If the shutdown persists, non-federal funding may be put on Oklahomans’ EBT cards in the near future.
“We may still need to have that discussion in two weeks or three weeks whenever they get the programming done and if SNAPs still not running,” Bernard said. “So again, a good step, applaud it. It’s going to be great for emergency preparedness in the future. And hopefully they can fast track it. Maybe it can even be helpful this time.”
