SNAP benefits

As the end to the government shutdown seems near, Gov. Janet Mills directed Maine DHHS to start sending benefits to eligible households. Though advocates say the Trump Administration's handling of the crisis caused chaos.

The sites will be at different locations throughout the week in Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington, and Hancock counties.

The announcement Friday comes after the U.S. Department of Agriculture said it would make contingency funds available for SNAP during the government shutdown to comply with a federal court order.

Non-profit Maine Equal Justice said SNAP benefit amounts could be about half of what they were for single parents and elderly couples, and some working families might get no benefit at all.

Biddeford Mayor Marty Grohman is calling for a special session of the legislature to tap into the budget stabilization fund, also know as the rainy day fund, to pay the 170,000 Mainers expected to lose federal SNAP benefits as of this weekend.

As the government shutdown heads into November, some 170,000 people in Maine are bracing for the loss of monthly grocery money from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

The state money, plus $250,000 from a foundation, aims to boost food pantries and other programs as 170,000 Maine residents face the loss of SNAP or food stamp benefits.

The attorneys general say the U.S. Department of Agriculture has access to billions of dollars in contingency funds and can use them pay for the November benefits.

Federal food assistance for nearly 170,000 Mainers is likely to halt next week due to the government shutdown. Some local businesses are stepping in to provide free food and supplies to fill the gap.

State officials warn, funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, is expected to run out of regular funding in the coming weeks due to the federal government shutdown.