LITTLE ROCK — The federal government shutdown has entered its third day, and anxiety is lingering across Arkansas.
The Little Rock NAACP says the shutdown could disproportionately harm underserved communities who rely on government-funded assistance like SNAP or HUD. Community organizations are urging lawmakers to act before more families feel the effects.
Many programs are currently unaffected, but advocates warn that could change if the shutdown persists.
For Norma Huffman, a single disabled mother, the stakes feel high.
“I am a single disabled mother. I cannot work. I have to depend on the government assistance to be able to pay my bills, to be able to make sure there’s food in the house for me and my son,” Huffman said.
Huffman says she lives in survival mode, relying on federal programs to support herself and her child.
“So if housing ends up being cut because of this shutdown, then I can’t pay my rent this month,” she says. “If food stamps get taken away because of this shutdown, I can’t put food in my house for me and my son.”
Right now, HUD payments are continuing, but officials warn that FHA-insured single-family loans could face processing delays if the shutdown drags on.
The White House says SNAP funding could be depleted if the shutdown lasts an “extended period of time,” potentially leaving many families hungry.
The Arkansas Foodbank released a statement saying it is
“…mobilizing our pantry network, securing fresh food, and standing ready to ensure no one goes hungry.”
Marie Hollowell, president of the NAACP Little Rock Branch, says the state is especially vulnerable.
“Arkansas is number one in food insecurity,” she says.
Hollowell adds that the NAACP is working to encourage community members to rally together.
“We’re trying to encourage the community members to get out, help their neighbors, to support local food banks,” she says, “and we just want to rally together, just to show that we are here and we are prepared to do whatever is necessary.”
Furloughed federal workers are also bracing for uncertainty, stretching their last paychecks as long as possible while waiting for lawmakers to end the standoff.
“They need to come see where we’re living at and how we’re barely able to manage, because right now, I’m not able to manage,” Huffman says. “We need these resources.”
So far, all six members of Arkansas’ congressional delegation have voted to keep the government open and spoken out against the shutdown, some citing concerns for residents who rely on government services.
