For approximately 42 million low-income Americans, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, has been a vital resource to supplement their grocery budgets. Although the federal government has agreed to provide partial SNAP benefits this week amid the monthlong shutdown, recipients will still have to wait to receive them.
This raises a significant issue for families who are facing food insecurity. While nonprofits and organizations are willing to provide aid, the challenge they face is that in some communities, especially those that are predominantly Latino, residents are too afraid to seek help amidst the raids by federal immigration authorities.
The risk of getting detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has resulted in many families being too afraid to leave their homes and go to work.
Hope the Mission, a nonprofit that serves the homeless population, provides aid to the undocumented community. Among its resources, the nonprofit has a job center that connects people with job opportunities, provides resume assistance, interview preparation and access to work-appropriate clothing. Around 1,000 participants are currently enrolled in these services.
“We are doing everything we can to bridge the gaps that continue to widen while offering compassion … and practical support,” said Mina Garcia, senior director of program services for Hope the Mission. “We really are trying to collaborate with other providers as well to be able to coordinate all the resources that are available so that we can provide them to all our clients.”
However, she noted that due to the ICE raids, many families are now too afraid to come to their center for assistance.
“That growing fear and intimidation that has been caused by ICE activities has cast a shadow over our undocumented community and affected individuals and families that come through here,” said Garcia. “Hope the Mission has even had to implement ICE protocols in order for us to keep everyone … safe. Countless mothers and fathers who come through have to make the heartbreaking choice between safety and survival.”
Garcia added that many of these households being affected are “generational households,” meaning families with children and senior citizens live under the same roof.
Staff and volunteers were already doing outreach efforts, but have now ramped them up following the raids – going from once a week to nearly every day.
Brenda Lopez, program manager of the Navigation Center and Job Center, said that they’ve seen an increase in enrollments since the raids and the uncertain future of SNAP. Right now, the aim is to “prepare for the worst, expect the best.”
“We’re trying the best we can,” Lopez said. “We’re reaching out to many more potential resources to network with them, and we’re here to help as many as we can.”
Lopez wants the undocumented community to know that they can trust her and other staff members at Hope the Mission for help obtaining basic necessities, and they can reach out virtually or by phone.
“We’re all coming from the same [immigrant] background as them,” she said. “We all want one thing, which is for the situation to get better and to help one another.”
To contact the Job Center, dial (818) 691-1191 or visit the site at 11839 Sherman Way in North Hollywood.
For more information on Hope the Mission, go to https://hopethemission.org/.