TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — On Monday Cherokee Nation announced an expansion of its emergency cash assistance program to all Cherokee Nation citizens on SNAP nationwide and will adjust payments as the federal government partially pays November benefits.
The deadline to apply for cash assistance is November 14.
“We anticipated following our announcement last week that states would step up to replace SNAP benefits, including Oklahoma,” said Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. “State level responses have not been adequate to protect our at-large citizens, including in Oklahoma where state leaders seem unwilling to tap enough of the state’s $3.69 billion in reserves to adequately respond.”
On October 26, the United States Department of Agriculture announced that November payments to low-income Americans on the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program would cease due to the federal government shutdown, the second longest in American history. SNAP is the country’s largest food security program.
Two days later Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner issued an emergency declaration and announced a $6.5 million response package. The package funded direct cash payments to Cherokee Nation citizens on SNAP within the tribe’s reservation and in surrounding counties as well as over $1.25 million to support food banks and other non-profit food programs in the area and among its network of non-profit community organizations across the United States.
Today Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner expanded the emergency declaration to include Cherokee Nation citizens currently on SNAP living anywhere in the United States.
Cherokee Nation is the country’s largest tribe at over 470,000 citizens across all fifty states. Tribal officials estimate that its citizens' SNAP participation rate is comparable to the larger U.S. population at around 12.3%. Most beneficiaries of SNAP are children.
The tribe’s expanded cash assistive program could bring the total cost of the crisis response to over $11 million.
In the tribe’s amended emergency declaration extending direct cash assistance nationwide, the direct cash benefit will be suspended if the federal spending lapse ends soon. The tribe will also adjust those benefits as USDA, or particular states where the applicant lives, pays partial benefits. The maximum benefit is $185 per approved individual applicant.
“Good leadership requires that we adjust based on changing circumstances,” said Chief Hoskin. “We are taking this one month at a time. If the federal government comes through, we will save as much of our emergency resources for a future crisis as we can.”
USDA presently faces a federal district court order to pay SNAP benefits with available contingency funds. Federal officials have indicated available contingency funds will pay only partial benefits for November.
“This is an unprecedented crisis, and the impact is measurable on every single Cherokee no matter where they live,” said Deputy Principal Chief Bryan Warner. “We need to expend our emergency funds wisely, but when Cherokees are out in immediate peril of hunger, we must act as quickly and effectively as we can.”
Cherokee Nation citizens on SNAP benefits can apply through the tribe’s Gadugi portal found at the tribe’s website, Cherokee.org. Applicants will need to upload proof of SNAP participation. Payment eligibility and levels will be determined at the time of payment and will be adjusted or suspended based on the availability of local, state or federal direct cash food assistance.
“Prudent fiscal management, solid leadership and steady growth has put Cherokee Nation in a position to use tribal funds to help citizens nationwide if the SNAP spending lapse continues,” said Council Speaker Johnny Jack Kidwell. “Cherokees, in a non-partisan manner, should continue to encourage federal officials to reopen the federal government or take some action in the meantime to avoid leaving SNAP recipients with no benefits.”
Cherokee Nation also encourages Cherokee Nation citizens in the region who are furloughed federal employees in non-pay status to contact Cherokee Nation Human Services at 918-453-5422 for assistance in finding resources within the reservation and surrounding counties.
Last week Chief Hoskin called on Oklahoma state leaders to utilize a portion of the state’s $3.69 billion surplus to provide replacement payments to all the state’s SNAP participants. State leaders meet this week to discuss proposals to donate state funds to food banks.