South Bend declares local disaster emergency as families miss SNAP benefits

South Bend has declared a local disaster emergency as families miss SNAP payments during the government shutdown. The city is stepping in with support: utility shutoffs for assistance program recipients are suspended for three months, and $125,000 from the city, council, clerk’s office, and local nonprofits is going to food banks. Mayor James Mueller called it a “food emergency” but stressed the city can’t replace the federal government. “Nothing’s changed,” he said. “We don’t have the resources to backstop federal programs, but we’re doing what we can to help families right now.”