News story by Anthony DaBruzzi, Spectrum News – Wisconsin
MADISON, Wis. — The federal government shutdown is over, but food insecurity in Wisconsin isn’t.
Gov. Tony Evers spent his Thursday at food banks and pantries in both Madison and Oshkosh to highlight how the longest shutdown in American history is still impacting those organizations on the frontlines who serve their communities.
“We have to make sure that the federal government is going to be a partner in all of this,” Gov. Evers told Spectrum News 1 during a stop at Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin.
After food assistance was delayed for nearly 700,000 Wisconsin residents, the governor said the federal and state governments each have their own roles to play but need to work together.
“The idea that somehow, we’re just not going to do it because we’re pissed off or something, that’s just irrational behavior, and so I’m hopeful that we have all learned a lesson,” Gov. Evers added.
The governor now hopes the Food Security Initiative, a grant program he created, can help food pantries keep their shelves stocked.
It connects local nonprofit food assistance programs, such as pantries, with local producers, thanks to a $10 million investment as part of the latest state budget.
“It’s likely now that things have been ‘fixed,’ that it’s going to fade from some folks’ minds again, and it still exists, Michelle Orge, who serves as president and executive director of Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, explained of food insecurity. “It’s still there. We’re distributing twice as much food as we were at the height of the pandemic.”
While the latest federal funding deal makes sure those who rely on food assistance won’t face interruption through the rest of the budget year, Orge said many people are still struggling, especially those who don’t qualify for assistance.
“Without data, we can’t explain certain things, but I don’t need data to tell me that we’re seeing increases of folks coming to our partner agencies,” Orge added.
In Wisconsin, the latest Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed (ALICE) Household Stability Budget for a family of four, with two kids in child care, is $126,876 per year, according to an analysis by the United Way.
“So, the difference between folks who are qualifying for SNAP and who may need more support, and folks who don’t need any support at all, there’s a huge gap there,” Orge said.
Those are factors that Gov. Evers wishes more Wisconsinites knew about.
“Think about this; there are probably people in the legislature [who] don’t really know that there is stuff like this going on. And so, I think we need to have more people thinking about it,” Gov. Evers said. “And one of the ways is to get them going to a place like this and visit, but also every local community has something going on in the area of food insecurity.”
Earlier this week, Gov. Evers also signed an emergency order to suspend the Wisconsin Department of Children and Families (DCF) rules over emergency assistance for those facing housing insecurity or an energy crisis.
