by Mona Mahadevan The New Haven independent
Dozens of CFAN partners lined up behind Steve Werlin, as he called for Gov. Ned Lamont to take more action immediately.
Over the last six years, Angela Roman has only needed to pick up food from St. Bernadette’s Food Pantry towards the end of the month. Without the federal food assistance that she and her two young daughters rely on, starting on Saturday, she’ll have to go at the beginning.
Friday morning, she spoke at a press conference about how she and another 42 million Americans are bracing for the federal government suspending the nation’s largest food assistance program during its ongoing shutdown. The conference also marked the launch of United Way’s Neighbors United Emergency Response Fund: a coordinated donation campaign aimed at supporting the 30,000 Greater New Haven families now facing food insecurity.
Just a few hours after the press conference at Wooster Square’s Loaves and Fishes, two federal judges ruled in separate decisions that the Trump administration must tap into a multi-billion-dollar emergency reserve to continue paying Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits.
The decisions, which came from U.S. District Courts in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, insisted on the administration sending out SNAP benefits as quickly as possible, though neither specified the exact amounts required to be disbursed. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Brooke Rollins declined to confirm whether the administration would comply with the orders, so it’s still not clear whether or when SNAP recipients will receive their November benefits.
New Haven was one of the 20 plaintiffs awarded a win in the Rhode Island decision.
Mayor Justin Elicker, who spoke about the lawsuit at Friday’s press conference, celebrated the ruling in a separate press release.
“The federal court’s decision affirms what every New Havener and American of good conscience knows to be true: the Trump Administration’s attempt to withhold SNAP benefits and food assistance from our most vulnerable residents is as illegal as it is immoral. I applaud the court’s decision and join with our fellow plaintiffs in urging the Trump Administration to abide by the judge’s ruling and immediately distribute funds to continue the SNAP program,” wrote Elicker.
On Friday, Roman, a single mom to a two year old and six year old, discussed how she’s preparing for November.
She’s been receiving SNAP benefits — formerly known as food stamps — for six years. Over that period, she’s gotten between $500 and $700 per month, some of which she uses on her elderly parents.
Already, said Roman, it’s been “a stretch” to afford enough fruit and meat to make healthy meals. One added cost comes from making sure her older daughter, a picky eater, eats enough during the day, since she’ll opt to “sit at school for seven hours” with an empty stomach instead of eating a free cafeteria meal. Roman’s dad, she added, recently had a heart attack and lost his job, which has taken a tremendous mental, emotional, and financial toll.
To get food on the table, Roman is trying to find a job with hours flexible enough to accommodate her kids. She said she’ll continue applying as widely as she can over the next month.
As stressed and anxious as she feels, Roman said her heart is with the parents who need SNAP to afford formula for their very young children.
If she could speak to President Trump, she’d tell him, “Think of the children and the elders. You’re taking away a lifeline–the only source that they have for food.”
Roman, a resident of Fair Haven Heights, is one of 30,750 individuals in New Haven that received SNAP benefits in September 2025. In 2024, 42,930 individuals in New Haven were registered for SNAP at least once during the year.
That level of need, said United Way of Greater New Haven CEO Jennifer Heath, has prompted the formation of an emergency response fund. During the press conference at 57 Olive St., she said the fund would support local pantries and provide direct assistance to qualifying families. The goal is to raise $1 million, which is enough to feed 15,000 people.
“We cannot replace federal funding,” Heath acknowledged, but “we must do what we can.” Already, 43 percent of Greater New Haven is “struggling to make ends meet” — a proportion that is climbing as “the gap between what people earn and what it costs to live continues to grow.”
She urged neighbors to donate shelf-stable foods, money, and volunteer time. More information about the fund can be found here.
In addition to criticizing of the federal government, nonprofit leaders called out the state, especially Gov. Ned Lamont, for only authorizing $3 million in emergency food aid.
Coordinated Food Assistance Network (CFAN) Co-Chair Steve Werlin pointed out that Connecticut has a $4 billion rainy day fund and $380 million budget surplus. “The cash is there, and it is pouring,” said Werlin.
He called on Lamont to “exercise the political will” to close the gap immediately, while applauding a “bipartisan coalition” of state lawmakers working to find more money.
State Rep. Pat Dillon clarified that Lamont and legislators are in the midst of getting more aid, including a $10 million check currently bonded with the state Department of Agriculture.
In a press release sent Friday, state Rep. Josh Elliott, who’s running against Lamont for the Democratic nomination for governor, criticized the governor for taking less action than states in worse financial positions.
“Right now, Ned is the only person in the state standing between a family in need and the security of their next meal,” wrote Elliott. “I’m calling on our governor to take a stand and dig into our surplus and reserves to shield our most vulnerable communities in this manufactured crisis.”
He named Rhode Island and Colorado, both facing budget deficits, as states allocating more emergency food aid than Connecticut. He credited Hawaii for launching a $100 million relief program for vulnerable families, as well as New York announcing $30 million in fast-tracked aid.
Lamont’s Director of Communications Rob Blanchard shot back, arguing that Lamont has made clear that the $3 million is only the “initial, immediate” response to the suspension of SNAP.
“The Governor has had constructive and encouraging conversations with legislative leaders on ways we can support SNAP beyond the $3 million, and we will share details of that relief soon.
“We understand Rep. Elliott is trying to get traction for his campaign and appreciate the ideas, but the Governor has always said no one will go hungry on his watch and we’re working to deliver on that commitment.”
Also on Friday, the Fair Haven Community Health Care (FHCHC) announced a temporary emergency food assistance program for patients that rely on federal SNAP benefits. FHCHC will distribute 100 vouchers, each worth $75, per day from Monday through Friday. More information can be found here.
During Friday’s press conference, New Haven Public Schools Superintendent Madeline Negron recalled relying on food stamps when growing up in Puerto Rico. Even with benefits, “the last week before the next contribution got rough,” she said.
Negron said NHPS would continue providing free meals and after-school snacks to students, as well as “assist[ing] where we can” in the collection and distribution of food.
In an average week, she said, NHPS serves 37,000 breakfasts and 61,000 lunches. Around 75 percent of NHPS families qualify for free or reduced meals.
“I’m grateful to keep our kids feed,” said Negron. “At least for now.”
Lorrice Grant, who heads up Loaves & Fishes: After Halloween, a day that’s “usually
about candy,” kids will be asking themselves where they’re getting their next meal.