NC Senate budget would cut food assistance to 133,000

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 130,000 people rely on federal SNAP food-assistance benefits in Mecklenburg County.

The program is facing severe cuts, leaving some families wondering how they're going to put food on the table.

It could be a double blow to families in North Carolina.

President Donald Trump's budget aims to cut $193 billion in food stamps. At the same time, North Carolina's Senate budget wants to roll back who can get the assistance as well.

Some Charlotte residents said they're worried about the people who won't be able to put food on the table.

A woman, who didn’t want to be identified, has a family on food stamps.

"People have children on food stamps,” she said. “That's what I'm worried about."

In North Carolina, 1.4 million people currently use food stamps.

That number has dropped from previous years. In 2015, more than 1.6 million people received assistance. Some said that number is still too high for people who need help.

"I think it'll hurt a lot of folks,” resident Clarence Clemons said. “It'll hurt a lot of folks who are on food stamps."

North Carolina determines who is eligible for food stamps and implements the program. State senators have added a provision to their budget that would rollback how many people can take advantage of the federal program.

That move would impact 133,000 people statewide -- 15,000 in Mecklenburg County -- and about 7,000 of which are children.

Cox Media Group