“Nearly 3.5 million people in Texas alone rely on monthly SNAP benefits,” said Wilson. SMU Professor Dr. Doric Earle is co-founder of Restorative Farms, an urban farming network fighting food insecurity. With SNAP benefits up in the air, they have to adjust their outreach.

The North Texas Food back is preparing to see a rise in demand for services as federal funding dries out due to ongoing government shutdown.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) said on its website that SNAP benefits for November will not be issued if the shutdown continues past October 27. While the HHSC notes that Medicaid, WIC, TANF and CHIP benefits won’t be affected, the 3.7 million Texans–roughly 11% of the population–who rely on SNAP to pay for groceries will.

About 3.5 million Texans—including 1.7 million children—could lose access to SNAP benefits next month if the shutdown continues.

Millions may lose SNAP and WIC benefits as the government shutdown threatens funding, leaving families struggling to afford food.