Seattle announces up to $8 million in food aid until SNAP benefits are restored

Alexandra Yoon-Hendricks, The Seattle Times on Oct 31, 2025

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SEATTLE — The city of Seattle will direct $4 million per month in food assistance toward food banks in response to the halt of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits because of the ongoing partial federal government shutdown.

Mayor Bruce Harrell declared a limited civil emergency Thursday to free up city resources and staff as food banks and food pantries brace for surging demand in the coming days.

Seattle plans to release up to $4 million per month through the end of the year, or until SNAP benefits are restored. Funding will be given to food banks and meal programs with existing city contracts, though details on specific allocations are still being finalized, city officials said.

The city funding comes as Washington state announced earlier this week it plans to release $2.2 million to hunger relief groups weekly starting Monday to help food banks shore up supplies.

Starting Nov. 1, no SNAP benefits will be distributed to the roughly 42 million low-income Americans who depend on the federal assistance program to keep their fridges full and pantries stocked. In Washington, nearly 930,000 low-income residents will not see new funds loaded onto their EBT cards.

The Trump administration declined to use SNAP’s $5 billion contingency fund to help cover the gap, leaving state and local governments across the country scrambling to ensure their most vulnerable residents don’t go hungry.

Washington joined a multistate lawsuit this week challenging the decision. Two federal judges on Friday said the Trump administration must tap into those emergency funds to deliver SNAP benefits.

But it remains unclear if or when recipients might actually receive benefits, and how much. The federal food assistance program costs about $8 billion a month.

The U.S. Justice Department may appeal the judges’ decision, which could cause further delays.

Harrell urged residents who are able to donate to local food banks, saying, “Every dollar helps keep our neighbors fed and our community strong.”

While the Trump administration is cruelly abandoning its duty to keep families fed, Seattle will step up to support our community, Harrell said in a statement Thursday.

The Seattle City Council will hold a special meeting Monday to discuss and to potentially take additional action on the mayor's proclamation.

About 8% of households in Seattle — roughly 29,500 families — received food stamps at some point in 2024, per the most recent U.S. census data available. They receive about $16 million a month in benefits, city officials estimate.

In Seattle, nearly half of SNAP recipients live in a household where at least one person has a disability. About 50% live with an adult who’s 60 years old or older. More than 1 in 5 SNAP recipients in the city live in families with children.

Those seeking food resources can go to the state Agriculture Department's website, or call 360-725-5640. To find nearby food banks, visit Food Lifeline’s website.