Friend, no one should be denied access to basic needs like food. Yet the federal government is threatening to stop distributing Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP or food stamps) benefits to all the people who rely on them to survive, starting November 1.  

That means 42 million Americans will not have the support they need to put food on the table for themselves and their loved ones. And we know many of the people who rely on these lifesaving benefits are the people we fight for, from those that struggle with addiction to those with drug convictions who are reentering society after incarceration. 

Lawmakers are using the government shutdown as an excuse to cut off this critical food assistance. But make no mistake: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has the tools to keep SNAP benefits flowing and we need to make them do the right thing! 

Please join us so families don’t go hungry by urging Congress to protect SNAP immediately. 

SNAP is a lifeline for many people, especially those returning home after incarceration. In the critical weeks after release, many lack steady work or housing—making it extremely difficult to afford food. SNAP helps ensure they and their families don’t go hungry while they rebuild their lives. Without this support, people face greater instability, which increases the risk of rearrest and reincarceration.  

SNAP is also essential for people in recovery, many of whom have a drug felony conviction. Consistent access to food allows people to focus on treatment, find work, and secure housing.  

Right now, families are already struggling with rising grocery prices and impossible choices between food, rent, and other basic needs. Taking away SNAP benefits will only make things worse. For people who are struggling with addiction, it will create more hardship which could lead to more drug use or a lapse in recovery. And for people returning home from jail or prison, it would be another barrier to keeping them out of the cycle of incarceration.  

Protecting SNAP is essential for safer, healthier communities where people can recover, thrive, and avoid being forced into desperation. Join us in urging Congress to pressure the USDA to immediately deploy existing contingency funding, issue guidance to states to ensure benefits are available, and find additional resources to prevent families from going hungry. 

The Drug Policy Alliance is fighting to repeal the decades-long lifetime ban on SNAP benefits for people with drug felony convictions. Today, 22 states still enforce the ban in some form, while 28 have opted out. We have a responsibility to the movement and the communities we serve to protect SNAP—because at the core of our work is a belief that no one should go hungry. As we work to strengthen SNAP to include people with drug felony convictions nationwide, we must also stand up for the 42 million people and their families who rely on it every day to make ends meet. 

Sincerely,

Hanna Sharif-Kazemi 
Federal Policy Manager 
Drug Policy Alliance