Food Shortages and financial struggles in Las Vegas due to U.S. government shutdown

The United States government is still in shutdown. Congress and President Donald Trump's administration did not pass a new federal budget, the majority of agencies came to a standstill and federal paychecks were halted.

In Nevada's Las Vegas, the impact has really been felt by the people. Over 400 thousand state residents get monthly food benefits through the federal food assistance program, SNAP. State health authorities state that if the shutdown continues through November, the funds for those benefits will finish and nearly half a million Nevadans will lose their assistance to purchase food.

The local nonprofits just watch the trouble. Catholic Charities of Southern Nevada, based in Las Vegas, has 15 percent more families show up at its food pantry since the shutdown started. Before October 1, about a hundred and fifty people took home groceries daily, now about 300 people take home groceries each day. The staff hear that many of the families had received federal benefits previously, but missed or delayed payments cause them to seek food assistance elsewhere.

Three Square Food Bank says this situation is turning into a big crisis. For each meal the bank distributes, SNAP would otherwise be paying for nine more. Without SNAP funding, that shortfall is way too huge for food banks to bridge. Three Square and similar nonprofits beg for emergency donations so shelves can remain full with the food supplies.

The shutdown also affects Las Vegas' federal workers. Federal office employees, postal and airport security personnel work unpaid overtime or even remain at home on temporary unpaid furloughs.

A lot of employees now depend on local food pantries and church food banks to pay the rent, purchase milk and keep lights burning.

Catholic Charities is asking that people bring in frozen turkeys, canned items and money so that families can at least receive a Thanksgiving meal. The charity also requires additional help at the tables because the line of families increases every single morning.

The state government of Nevada wasn't to blame for the problem.

The federal offices in Washington, D.C. closed when Congress and also the Trump administration failed to agree on a new budget. Until they sign a spending plan, the funds for SNAP as well as other programs of assistance are locked up and Las Vegas families will continue to struggle.

Every extra day the shutdown continues means more people in the Las Vegas Valley will endure hunger and hardship, something that could be avoided.

A couple of videos online on what's going on.

Federal workers missing paychecks

It's still on going