For Cleveland Heights resident Michal Colie, resolving the disruption in her SNAP food benefits—frozen during the federal government shutdown—isn’t as simple as visiting a local food bank or relying on family for support.

SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides crucial assistance, but temporary fixes come with their own challenges.

While Colie has received help from family members and a case manager at the Jewish Family Service Association to connect with local programs, these solutions are not permanent.

“I rely heavily on SNAP for food,” Colie, who because of chronic health issues has been on the program since 2023, told the Cleveland Jewish News. “My family’s been helping me, but they can only do so much and can’t help beyond that. I do rely on food banks regula

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