Federal shutdown threatens SNAP benefits for Coloradans, Salvation Army sees increased need

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO)-- Many here in Colorado depend on food assistance through the snap program but, we are now 20 days into the federal government shutdown and Governor Polis says that help could vanish by november first. Staff at the salvation army in Colorado Springs tell KRDO13 the demand is spiking.

They’ve logged an 18 percent increase in calls for utilities assistance over the past weeks and just last week, 15 new veteran families showed up seeking food and support.

"When we see that kind of increase we know we want to be prepared. we wanna help meet the need. We love just being the middle man to pass on from the generosity of people who care about their neighbors and just do that in a gracious and humble way and with dignity." said Major Nancy Ball at the Salvation Army in Colorado Springs.

Now add to that the warning from the governor’s office roughly 600,000 Coloradans could lose snap benefits if funding isn’t restored by November 1. 

SNAP is the federal benefit that helps people and families buy groceries — in Colorado, the governor’s office says the state gets about $120 million a month in snap funding but, with the federal budget impasse and shutdown in effect, officials warn that Colorado cannot load ebt cards if the funding stops, placing those hundreds of thousands of households at risk. The pantry at the salvation army is completely free to anyone who may be in need.

Ball tells KRDO13 they are going to be as prepared as they can for people who may never have seen themselves in a crisis needing assistance.