Mayor Mueller declares food emergency for South Bend
By Annie Kate
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SOUTH BEND, Ind. (WBND) — Wednesday afternoon, South Bend Mayor James Mueller issued an executive order declaring a local disaster emergency amid the ongoing government shutdown, now that families who rely on nutrition assistance (SNAP) begin to miss payments.
The city is suspending all utility shut-offs through Feb. 5 for all residents enrolled in South Bend’s Utility Assistance Program (UAP).
This affects the same folks who would also be eligible for SNAP benefits, and is meant to ease some of the burden, so they don’t have to choose between paying to keep the lights on or put food on the table.
“The only real solution and sustainable solution to this is for Congress to reopen the federal government,” Mueller said. “They’ve got to do their jobs. Keeping the lights on is the lowest bar to pass.”
In addition, the city has identified $70,000 to help local food banks and other agencies. $50,000 comes from city administration, $10,000 from the common council, and another $10,000 from the South Bend Clerk’s Office. Most of the funds will go to the Food Bank of Northern Indiana, and some will also go to Cultivate Food Rescue.
Local philanthropies and nonprofits are putting up another $55,000 to help these efforts.
Just last month alone, the Food Bank of Northern Indiana saw more than 800 new households utilizing the food bank, according to CEO Marijo Martinec. There has been a 23 percent increase in need since this time last year. Martinec said last month, they saw more than 4,100 households, the largest amount of people in the past five years.
The South Bend location will open an extra day throughout the shutdown, Martinec said, and that will be Thursdays from 11am to 3pm.
“No family in South Bend should go hungry because of a temporary disruption in federal aid,” said Canneth Lee, South Bend Common Council President. “We care. As a city, we care about the residents who are being affected. This is unfair, this isn’t right. And so, we’re doing what we can to help individuals in our community.”
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