HOUSTON — Families across the Houston area are facing growing uncertainty this week as the federal government shutdown continues to disrupt key support programs — including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and paychecks for thousands of federal employees.

Early Monday morning, more than 1,000 people lined up outside the West Houston Assistance Ministries facility for a special food distribution organized by the Houston Food Bank. The event, one of four pre-registered distributions planned this month, aims to support families struggling without SNAP benefits or delayed federal pay.

The line stretched around the block as families waited for one thing that’s become harder to come by lately — food.

“It means a lot that the community has come together to help my mother an

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