PHOENIX \u2014 Gov. Katie Hobbs is allocating $1.8 million she has left over from federal COVID funds to provide at least some help to the nearly 900,000 Arizonans who won\u2019t get food stamp benefits in November.<\/p>\n
In a prepared announcement Wednesday, the governor said $1.5 million of that will be divided up among food banks across the state, which are expected to be hard hit once the benefits dry up.<\/p>\n
Hobbs acknowledged that is just a fraction of the more than $161 million that now goes to Arizonans. It also compares with the $45 million St. Mary\u2019s Food Bank, the largest in the state, already gets in donations.<\/p>\n
But the governor said she hopes to leverage more aid, including by encouraging people to donate directly to food banks and volunteer there. And Hobbs said she is calling on retailers, grocers and the state\u2019s fresh produce industry to contribute food and logistical resources.<\/p>\n
Another $300,000 is going into a newly created Food Bucks Now program.<\/p>\n
It is modeled after the existing Double Up Food Bucks program that provides a dollar-for-dollar match when food stamp recipients use their benefits at local farmers markets. There also is a similar option that can be used at grocery stores, though the match is for money spent on fresh fruits and vegetables.<\/p>\n
Only thing is, with SNAP benefits gone, there is no balance on recipients\u2019 cards to double.<\/p>\n
By contrast, the Food Bucks Now program, also operated by Pinnacle Prevention in connection with the Department of Economic Security, lets individuals bring their SNAP debit cards to participating locations and get a $10 voucher each day to double their fruit and vegetable purchases and a separate $30 voucher for any SNAP-eligible foods.<\/p>\n
Finding a participating locations, however, may be difficult.<\/p>\n
A website designed to help shows a few grocery stores, like the Plaza Mobile Market in Tucson and the Tonto Basin Market IGA.
But most sites are farmers markets, many of which are open only on weekends or during certain hours. And there are large swaths of the state with no locations.<\/p>\n
The program is good through November. But promotional materials note the amount of demand is expected to exceed the $300,000 available.<\/p>\n
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All that compares with data from DES that puts the average monthly benefit for a family at $358.<\/p>\n
Hobbs\u2019 announcement came with a slap by her and other Democrats at the refusal of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use money it has in its contingency fund to continue benefits, at least into November, despite the federal government shutdown and the lack of an appropriation for the program.<\/p>\n
It is estimated there is between $5 billion and $6 billion in the account; USDA estimates it costs about $9 billion in a typical month.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is appalling that the Trump administration is choosing to withhold food from vulnerable Arizona families, using them as leverage in their political games,\u201d she said in her prepared statement. \u201cThe state of Arizona does not have the money to backfill the disastrous decisions being made by Washington Republicans.\u201d<\/p>\n
USDA officials have said those contingency dollars are designed to provide help in cases of natural disasters and cannot be spent simply because Congress has failed to approve a new budget.<\/p>\n
That contention, however, is being disputed by Attorney General Kris Mayes.<\/p>\n
She cited memos and other documents from the agency making it clear those dollars can be used in the event of a government shutdown. And she and other Democratic officials have filed suit asking a federal judge to order the USDA to dip into the fund.<\/p>\n
Mayes separately is urging Hobbs to call lawmakers into special session to tap the state\u2019s $1.6 billion \u201crainy day fund,\u201d dollars set aside to deal with unforeseen emergencies.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf this is not a rainy day, I\u2019m not sure what is,\u201d the attorney general said.<\/p>\n
Hobbs, however, has so far been noncommittal.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe governor\u2019s office is considering all available options,\u201d said Christian Slater, the governor\u2019s press aide.<\/p>\n
Hobbs\u2019 announcement of the $1.8 million in grants comes less than a week after she brushed aside a question about why she was not using COVID relief dollars to deal with the loss of SNAP benefits.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe COVID money is very much exhausted,\u201d she said at the time.<\/p>\n
Howard Fischer<\/p>\n