With SNAP recipients in limbo because of government uncertainty, county officials say they must ‘fight for resources’
Rogue Valley Times staff report
Jackson County commissioners declared a state of emergency Tuesday in response to food scarcity caused by the suspension of federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
Some 47,000 Jackson County residents who receive food benefits — nearly 14,000 of which are children or individuals living with disabilities — have been facing uncertainty since the announcement of suspension of SNAP benefits, previously known as food stamps, Nov. 1.
The Trump administration on Monday said that SNAP benefits would be restored, but Oregon officials report that federal funding for November SNAP benefits have not been received.
The declaration followed an order by a pair of judges that the U.S. Department of Agriculture keep the program running after more than two dozen states, including Oregon and Washington, sued the federal government for withholding funds.
With the ongoing shutdown, federal officials will tap into $4.6 billion in emergency funds, which falls short of a full month’s funding for SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans.
Trump administration officials have directed states to pay only half the amount people normally get for the month of November.
Jackson County Emergency Manager Delaney Richmond told the Jackson County Board of Commissioners during a Tuesday work session that the declaration would go into effect immediately and give county officials increased options for responding to food scarcity, including emergency procurement of goods and services.
Oregon is in the top three of states most dependent on food assistance, with some 18% of state residents receiving monthly SNAP benefits.
“Part of this declaration signals to the state, ‘Hey, we have no resources to really fix this. We don’t have money. We don’t have additional food that we can grow really fast or acquire really fast,” Richmond told the commission.
“So we are really reliant on what the state is going to be doing, and we’re working with the food banks to make sure that I can go advocate and fight for resources.”
The emergency declaration will remain in effect until the end of the calendar year or until SNAP funds are fully reinstated and being received, county officials said.
This story first appeared in the Rogue Valley Times. Reach reporter Buffy Pollock at 458-488-2029 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @orwritergal.
Related stories:
A combined food drive and Oregon Senate town hall set for Medford on Saturday (Nov. 5, 2025)
Ashland Food Project launches campaign to keep up with demand (Nov. 4, 2025)
Trump administration must restart SNAP benefits by Wednesday, judge rules (Nov. 2, 2025)
SNAP recipients brace for benefit cutoff: ‘I don’t know how to do it with nothing’ (Oct. 31, 2025)
Local food banks struggle as demand increases while funding decreases (Sept. 14, 2025)
