The first of the month has always carried weight in Detroit. It’s the day bills get paid, groceries fill the refrigerator again, and mothers finally exhale.
This November, that day arrives with more uncertainty than relief.
The federal government’s decision to pause SNAP benefits beginning November 1 has left thousands of Michigan households bracing for empty cupboards. It is a policy failure with human consequences, and in Wayne County, those consequences have names, addresses, and children to feed.
Roughly 430,000 people here depend on food assistance to eat. Most are women raising children on their own. In a county where one in five residents already live below the poverty line, SNAP has not been a luxury. For families across Detroit, it has been survival.
Adrian Lewis, who leads Forgotten Harvest, said his team has already felt the tremors. His organization rescues food that would otherwise be wasted and delivers it through a network of more than 200 local partners.
Each week, they deliver food to churches, shelters, and community centers, places where the number of families waiting for groceries says more about the state of the economy than any report ever could.
“This problem of hunger and food insecurity has existed for quite some time,” Lewis said. “We’re going to remain committed to making sure that all of our resources are allocated to those partners, knowing that demand has already begun to creep up and it’s going to be higher.”
Forgotten Harvest prepared early. The organization dipped into its reserves this summer to purchase two million pounds of protein, anticipating inflation and instability. Only a fraction of that stock remains.
“We alone were not built to replace SNAP,” Lewis said. “This is technically significant and unprecedented in what we’re dealing with.”
Food prices in the Detroit-Warren-Dearborn area have risen about 2.6 percent over the past year. Michigan’s unemployment rate remains above the national average. Lewis said those numbers carry real consequences.
“We stand beside the community, those that are in need,” he said. “We want to be a collaborative partner with other organizations and corporations to make sure we can get through this.”
On Detroit’s east and west sides, smaller nonprofits are stepping forward with the same urgency. SHARE Detroit, which connects residents to volunteer work and mutual-aid organizations, is giving the public a way to respond.
“It’s definitely been challenging for a lot of nonprofits across Metro Detroit,” said Karly Moore of SHARE Detroit. “We’re really trying to listen to our nonprofit partners, especially our grassroots organizations that struggle to get the visibility they need to be sustainable.”
The organization has created an online directory of more than fifty food pantries and twenty volunteer opportunities across four counties.
“People want to support our community members who are facing the end of their SNAP benefits,” Moore said. “We created this space where you can donate to a food pantry, volunteer in person or remotely, and give nonprofits the support they need facing this shutdown.”
Fair Food Network is facing the crisis from another angle: where policy meets practice.
Chief Strategy and Program Officer Holly Parker said the federal pause will reverberate beyond households. SNAP dollars also sustain local grocers, corner markets, and family farmers. When those benefits stop, so do the purchases that keep small economies alive.
“Families who rely on SNAP to buy their groceries are going to be without critical food support, right as we’re entering the colder months and the holiday season,” Parker said. “This disruption doesn’t only impact individuals and families. It sets retailers and the local food economy back and sends shockwaves through the food access system.”
To help bridge the gap, Fair Food Network is expanding its Double Up Food Bucks program, which allows residents to match Bridge Card spending on fruits and vegetables. The organization has removed its daily earning cap, added frozen produce to the eligible list, and extended benefits through the end of the year. Beginning November 1, families will also receive $40 in additional credits through a temporary Double Up Bonus Bucks program.
“Programs like Double Up and the work of Fair Food Network are built for moments like this,” Parker said. “We’re meeting immediate needs while building long-term resilience for families and local economies.”
Just a few months ago, parents and school districts across Michigan were waiting anxiously for the state budget to pass, fearing needed programs would be cut.
School leaders warned that if the budget failed, funding for free lunch and breakfast programs could be lost. For many Detroit families, those meals are the most consistent source of nutrition their children receive. The SNAP pause adds new pressure as schools and community centers brace for families seeking support outside the classroom.
When one program stops, the weight shifts to the rest. That’s why local nonprofits, community partners, and our state elected officials say their response has to be collective.
“I and other Democratic House members are deeply concerned about the imminent risk of 1.4 million Michiganders facing hunger,” said state Representative Tonya Myers Phillips (D-Detroit). “The Trump Administration and Washington Republicans are jeopardizing the food security and well-being of people — families, seniors and those with disabilities — who rely on SNAP benefits. This is not just unacceptable, it’s inhumane. The provision of food should not be a political issue.”
Myers Phillips said her “Securing Fresh Food Access” bill creates a $900 million emergency supplement to keep the program temporarily operational using state reserves. The bill is part of a five-bill package introduced by Michigan Democrats that includes additional funding for food banks, pantries, and meal programs.
Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City) said the legislation is designed to fill the federal gap and protect those who cannot wait for politics to resolve itself.
“When a single mom is already working three jobs and still can’t afford groceries, or a senior citizen is on such a fixed income they have to ration their food, something in our society is profoundly broken,” Coffia said. “The SNAP program is a critical lifeline for the most vulnerable in our state, bridging the gap between what those who are struggling can afford and what they need to live.”
Rep. Kimberly Edwards (D-Eastpointe) echoed the urgency. “For millions of Michiganders, the SNAP program provides the small amount of relief needed to take one financial worry off their plate and put food on it instead,” she said. “Taking access to it away from 1.4 million Michiganders is unconscionable. We have an obligation to try every option available to stop this from happening.”
Governor Gretchen Whitmer also took action, joining a coalition of governors urging the Trump administration to prevent disruption to SNAP during the shutdown. In a letter to federal leaders, the governors warned that halting benefits would leave millions of Americans — including 16 million children, 8 million seniors, and 4 million people with disabilities — at risk of hunger.
“Halting SNAP benefits will put millions of Americans at risk of hunger and poverty,” said Governor Whitmer. “SNAP is a lifeline. It helps families put nutritious food on the table, supports local farmers and grocers, and strengthens our communities and economy. The USDA’s decision to delay SNAP assistance is unacceptable, and we urge the White House to provide the necessary funding to feed vulnerable Americans — our neighbors, family, and friends — in need.”
Families who receive assistance are more likely to afford doctor visits and prescriptions and less likely to skip meals to cover rent or medical costs. Nationally, SNAP supports nearly 388,000 jobs and generates over $4.5 billion in state and federal tax revenue each year.
Whitmer directed state departments to create a coordinated food response plan, including a list of regional programs where residents can find help. Her administration is continuing Double Up Food Bucks, supporting Hunters Feeding Families to provide venison and other local meat sources to families in need, and ensuring all 1.4 million Michigan public school students continue to receive free breakfast and lunch.
The governor has a long record of defending SNAP access. In 2023, she signed bipartisan legislation to eliminate the asset test for SNAP eligibility, making it easier for struggling families to qualify. Earlier this year, she joined 23 governors in calling on Congress to reject a $300 billion federal cut to the program.
This month, Michigan joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the Trump administration’s suspension of benefits.
Detroit’s network of care is not new. When formal support falls short, the city’s residents create their own. Churches open their kitchens. Neighbors share food. Volunteers deliver boxes to porches.
Each act becomes a reminder that Detroit’s greatest strength is still its people.
