Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - For thousands of Western New York residents who rely on federal assistance programs like SNAP and HEAP, they may find themselves in a bind come Nov. 1 unless the federal government shut down is resolved.
"The scale that we are talking about could be very large," said Collin Bishop, Feedmore WNY communications director.
Just how large?
In Western New York alone, more than 250,000 people receive either SNAP or HEAP assistance. SNAP is the modern version of food stamps will HEAP offers financial assistance for heating and some utility bills.
Within Erie County, more than 140,000 people from more than 78,000 households receive some level of SNAP benefits, while more than 92,600 receive HEAP assistance.
All at risk unless the federal government shutdown is resolved.
"Heat or eat, it is shameful people are being put into that scenario," said Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz. "We should not be in this situation."
Even without the looming loss of SNAP dollars, pantries and FeedMore WNY are seeing an increase in demand.
Bishop says FeedMore dealt with more than 166,000 people last year and that number has increased 46% in the past three years.
"Nobody wants to see anyone go hungry," Bishop said.
Rev. Kinzer Pointer from Liberty Missionary Baptist Church on Buffalo's East Side and chairman of the Erie County Commission on Poverty, said there people receiving either SNAP or HEAP benefits in all 105 ZIP Codes within Erie County.
"Don't fool yourself, there is poverty in every one of those ZIP Codes," Pointer said.
Poloncarz said Erie County will continue to accept SNAP and HEAP applications, but no money will be released until the federal shutdown is resolved and it becomes clear if both programs will continue to be funded.
"It is not a pretty situation," Poloncarz said.