As of Friday, October 31, the federal government is not planning to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) in November during the government shutdown. This decision will directly affect many Holyoke families and community members who depend on SNAP for food assistance.
Below are resources and information that Holyoke Public Schools recently received from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education:
The Department of Transitional Assistance (DTA) has posted a November 2025 SNAP update that includes a frequently asked questions section.
Project Bread's FoodSource Hotline and Mass211 are available resources for families seeking supports related to food.
DTA will continue to accept new applications and process recertifications after November 1, so individuals and families should apply if they need assistance. Current SNAP recipients should maintain their existing participation to ensure smoother access to benefits once the shutdown is over.
DTA expects that EBT cards will continue to function normally after November 1, so any benefits rolled over from a prior month could still be accessed at a retailer.
The state's Economic Assistance programs (TAFDC and EAEDC) and the Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) will continue normally.
The SNAP eligibility changes related to immigration status and the updated SNAP work requirements will be effective at the time of enrollment or recertification and will impact families on a rolling basis beginning November 1.
At this time, the Women, Infants, and Children Nutrition Program (WIC) is continuing to operate. Updates will be posted on the state website.
School meals programs are also continuing to operate.
HPS will post updated information to the news section of the district website as it becomes available. Please also refer to a previously published news story with information about local resources for families who may not have enough to eat.
HPS families can also seek assistance from their school's Family and Community Engagement members. And, as a reminder, all HPS students are eligible for free breakfasts and lunches at school when school is in session. There are no eligibility requirements. There is no need to sign up, and there are no forms to fill out.