Bloomington Township plans to offer financial relief to SNAP recipients whose benefits are being suspended or reduced during the federal government shutdown.
The township board votes during a special meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday at the Government Center on a plan to set aside $150,000 in emergency assistance.
Township supervisor Deb Skillrud said the program would provide temporary help to hundreds of families,who would be able to get between $200 and $500 per month — depending on the number of family members — for as long as funding is available.
“We have a reserve that could help in some capacity, certainly not as great as the federal government could, but we want to do what we can to help those residents of the City of Bloomington get a little relief,” Skillrud said in an interview on WGLT’s Sound Ideas.
Previously, Skillrud said, the township set aside the funding for any emergency that could emerge, and the township has the capacity to double that emergency allotment if needed. That decision lies with the Bloomington City Council that serves as the township board.
The Trump administration in indicated in court documents on Monday that it plans to start funding SNAP benefits at 50% during the shutdown, following court rulings that the government can’t eliminate the benefits even in the short-term.
Under the township proposal, residents would have to live within the City of Bloomington Township to be potentially eligible for SNAP benefits, and have a household income below 200% of the federal poverty level.
Eligible families would have to apply for benefits — either at the township office on South Gridley Street, by phone at (309) 434-2730 or by email at townshipoffice@cityblm.org.
