NEW ORLEANS (WVUE) – Gov. Jeff Landry signed an emergency order Friday, approving food assistance benefits through November for children, elderly people and people with disabilities during the federal government shutdown.
The emergency declaration allows the state to continue benefits for vulnerable populations while other Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients face uncertainty.
“The governor — since the Legislature is already in special session — went ahead and declared a state of emergency, which is within his powers as governor,” said Robert Collins, a Dillard University political analyst.
Benefits for all other affected individuals will lapse Nov. 1 if the federal shutdown continues. The potential lapse affects families across the state, Collins said.
“Even though those people might not be elderly or children or disabled, those people still might have members of their household, still might have family members who are depending on those SNAP benefits, and those individuals themselves might be below the poverty line,” Collins said.
Louisiana families described the programs as essential, particularly for those already affected by shutdown concerns.
“This is going to be the end of government assistance for people that truly need it,” one resident said. “When they go away, it’s going to be a lot of turmoil for people that don’t have money to feed themselves and then looking for a job. The economy’s so bad right now when it comes to finding work.”
Myrna Nolan, a Louisiana resident, said family members depend on the assistance.
“My children work hard to take care of their children, and then they got grandchildren they got to take care of,” she said.
Food banks are preparing for an influx of people seeking assistance as families consider how meal planning might change for those not protected by Landry’s order.
“Without the food stamps, there’s going to be very little hot plates on the table,” Nolan said.
Collins said Landry will need to ask for additional legislative approval for the programs if the federal shutdown extends past November. The governor said the emergency stopgap will be paid from the state’s emergency funds.
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