NCN Files Lawsuit to Protect Access to Critical Food Assistance During Government Shutdown
Today, the National Council of Nonprofits (NCN) filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island together with a broad coalition of community- and faith-based nonprofit organizations, small businesses and unions, and local governments to help protect access to critical food assistance for millions of Americans during the federal government shutdown.
Without action, federal funds will run out on November 1 for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This action will leave 42 million low-income Americans, including children, seniors, and veterans, without access to healthy, nutritious food. While local nonprofit food banks and pantries are already stepping up to fill the gaps in their communities, many do not have the resources or capacity to serve everyone in need. In the lawsuit, NCN and the other plaintiffs urge the federal court to ensure families and individuals are not cut off from the assistance they need to put food on their tables.
As NCN president and CEO Diane Yentel stated in a press release, “Denying millions of Americans access to basic food security is unlawful and unconscionable, and it threatens to push local nonprofit food banks, food pantries, and other organizations beyond the breaking point. Nonprofits are already doing everything they can to feed families and care for their communities amidst increasing need and diminishing resources, but they cannot replace federal nutrition programs, nor can they meet the tsunami of need that would result without SNAP benefits. We are suing the Trump administration because without federal food assistance, nonprofits will be left with an impossible burden and millions of people will go hungry.”
The litigation was filed by Democracy Forward and the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island. In addition to NCN, plaintiffs include municipalities: City of Albuquerque, New Mexico; City of Baltimore, Maryland; City of Central Falls, Rhode Island; City of Columbus, Ohio; City of Durham, North Carolina; City of New Haven, Connecticut; City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; City of Providence, Rhode Island; charitable and faith-based nonprofit organizations: Amos House; East Bay Community Action Program; Federal Hill House Association; Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center; Milagros Project; New York Legal Assistance Group; Rhode Island Council of Churches; United Way of Rhode Island; business and union organizations: Main Street Alliance; Black Sheep Market in Greenville, South Carolina; and Service Employees International Union (SEIU).