Families brace for SNAP benefits reduction and uncertain future
Beverly Henry selects food items from Detroit Friendship House’s food pantry.
Breaking news … A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) to issue full November Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits by Friday, Nov. 7 for roughly 42 million low-income Americans.
As a result, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has directed its SNAP EBT vendor to begin issuing full SNAP benefits to Michigan SNAP recipients as soon as funding is received.
SNAP recipients who normally receive their benefits on the third, fifth or seventh of the month should receive their full SNAP allotment within 48 hours of MDHHS receiving the funds. All other SNAP recipients will receive their full benefit payments on their normally scheduled date.
However, The Trump administration is now appealing the ruling.
By Alan Madlane
John Bledsoe, 44, is standing in line, among dozens outside Detroit Friendship House on a sunny Tuesday afternoon, waiting to take home a couple bags of groceries to feed a household of five.
He works two jobs, and still has to rely on the food pantry, and also SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits.
What money he gets from his work, he says, is “still not enough.”
He now has to do without SNAP benefits because Congress is on a self-imposed shutdown – meaning, no business is being done, and a number of so-called safety net benefit programs aren’t being funded.
Bledsoe, of Detroit, says the only thing to do until Congress straightens out its differences is to “keep praying.”
“You gotta do what you gotta do, of course. It’s going to be tough,” he added.
Bledsoe, and about 2,700 other people who live in Hamtramck, will now have to lean more heavily on food pantries like Detroit Friendship.
According to government records, about 40 percent of the city’s 27,000 people are living in poverty.
Across the nation, some 42 million people — about 12 percent of the country’s population — also rely on the government for food each month.
There was a moment this week when President Trump agreed to follow a federal court order and dip into special funds, set aside especially for occasions like this, to continue SNAP benefits.
But, on Tuesday, Trump decided to defy that court order and not release the funding.
And then he apparently flip-flopped again, as a White House spokesperson said SNAP funding would be released. Sort of.
It turns out that Trump only agreed to release half of the monthly funding allocated for November, and then no more after that.
In Michigan, the halt to the SNAP program could affect up to 1.4 million people.
Elizabeth Hertel, Director of the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) pulled no punches in her frank assessment of the situation, saying “The impact of households losing SNAP benefits will be felt around the state. SNAP is more that a food assistance program; it’s a lifeline for many Michigan families.”
In response to this dire situation, Friendship House, located on Conant, issued a press release saying:
“We know many neighbors are feeling the effects of recent SNAP funding delays.
“To help bridge the gap, MDHHS is partnering with Forgotten Harvest to host pop-up food distributions at MDHHS offices across Southeast Michigan.”
This special program starts on Tuesday Nov. 25 (10 a.m.–2 p.m.) and is intended to continue every fourth Tuesday of the month for the foreseeable future.
You must first register, and the program is based on first-come, first-served.
There is an MDHHS office in Hamtramck, located at 12140 Jos. Campau (313-892-0180).
Also, Friendship House, 9540 Conant (313-871-7443), will continue to serve Hamtramck residents during these times, as per normal:
• Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2–4 p.m.
• Saturdays: 9 a.m.–12 p.m.
For those who live outside the borders of Hamtramck, you can go online to find out where other food distributions are available:
• pantrynet.org/mobile-distribution-events
• forgottenharvest.org/find-food
• greatstart.org/food
Or, you can call 2-1-1 to find more local support.
The City of Hamtramck is also asking residents to donate food.
In a Facebook message on the city’s Facebook page it said:
“With the ongoing federal government shutdown and the looming loss of SNAP benefits for many our neighbors, we’re calling on the community to step in.
“This November, any time you visit City Hall to vote, pay a bill, pick up a permit, etc., please consider bringing a donation of non-perishable food or household goods.
“City staff will not only do its part contribute to this great cause, but we will also arrange delivery of the donated goods to local pantries supporting Hamtramck residents. Every contribution helps.”
The Piast Institute and the Hamtramck Drug Free Coalition, located at 11633 Jos. Campau, are also pitching in and offering free canned food in its outdoor “Little Library” stand.
Canned food donations are welcomed.
(Review Editor Charles Sercombe also contributed to this report.)
Posted Nov. 7, 2025
