With the federal shutdown hitting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits, Reno-Sparks residents have already missed their monthly food payments on Nov. 1. The Food Bank of Northern Nevada said about 48,000 people in the Reno area rely on SNAP benefits each month.

After two federal court rulings late last week, the Trump administration announced it will use contingency funds to pay about 50% of November SNAP benefits during the ongoing government shutdown.

The federal government has been shut down since Oct. 1, after Congress failed to pass new funding legislation, an impasse driven in part by partisan disputes over health care subsidies and overall spending levels.

Local nonprofits are working to meet the surge in demand by expanding meal programs and food distr

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