Reduction in food stamp benefits will hit Wrangell households

More than 100 Wrangell households will see their food stamp payments reduced beginning in September as a result of the official rescinding of the state’s public health emergency order on July 1.

As of May, 125 Wrangell households were participating in the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), with an average benefit of $469, up 88% from March 2020, the last pre-pandemic month.

SNAP, which traditionally assists low-income families with food purchases, began issuing emergency allotments in April 2020 as part of the federal government’s pandemic response. The emergency allotme...