More than 1.4 million Georgians and 580,000 metro Atlantans are poised to lose SNAP benefits on Nov. 1 as the federal government shutdown drags on.
Both the Trump administration and Gov. Brian Kemp said there would be no federal or state financial assistance to support food aid distribution, blaming Democrats for not voting on the stopgap spending bill.
Mayor Andre Dickens said the political gridlock was now an “urgent threat to food security” in the City of Atlanta.
At a lunchtime press conference, Dickens and community partners announced the ATL CARES (Community Action & Relief for Emergency Support) initiative in response to the federal funding lapse.
Dickens said he signed an administrative order to prevent termination of water service due to nonpayment until Jan. 31, 2026.
The order also institutes a temporary moratorium on evictions from city-owned, funded, and sponsored housing units and developments. The moratorium also runs through Jan. 31.
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Dickens said the city is coordinating with local partners including the Atlanta Community Food Bank, Goodr Community Market, Hosea Helps and a host of other organizations to provide a rapid response to food insecurity and ensure residents continue to have access to food and essential services.
Dickens also called on residents, businesses, and organizations to make donations to food banks, host food drives, and support local families who are facing food insecurity.
The Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) announced it would tap into $5 million in reserves to to help purchase more than six million pounds of food as part of a SNAP crisis response plan.
However, ACFB President Kyle Waide said the organization could not sustain emergency distribution for a long period without donations from the community.
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Bryan Johnson said 17,750 students rely on SNAP benefits. “This is not a political issue, it’s not a policy issue, but a human issue,” he said during the press conference.
Johnson said APS would continue its monthly food distribution to families in need and urged parents to visit atlantapublicschools.us/apshub to get more information.
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