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Home My WebLink About11-10-2025 Public SubmissionDear South Bend Common Council, Black Lives Matter South Bend and former 2nd District South Bend Common Council Member Henry Davis, Jr. submit this letter for the record, calling on the South Bend Common Council and its Personnel and Finance Committee to support Resolution Bill No. 25-47. This Resolution acknowledges the impact of the Federal Government Shutdown on SNAP recipients and calls for a public hearing on emergency measures to support food insecure residents. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has stated that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be delayed for at least one week. Only partial funding is expected at 50% of the normal amount Indiana recipients receive. The Trump Administration is compelling states to not move forward with distributing the funds. There still must be either a stopgap / Continuing Resolution or an Appropriations bill passed by the U.S. House, the U.S. Senate, and signed by the President in order to fully fund the government. Meanwhile, the City of South Bend has only committed approximately $70,000 in City operated funds — which equals only around $3.50 per SNAP recipient. It is not credible to say South Bend has declared a "food emergency" while only offering $3.50 in relief per recipient. At the exact same time, the South Bend Common Council routinely passes multi- million -dollar development subsidies for housing projects and economic development deals that most residents cannot afford. Finally, the City contributed approximately $60 million for development associated with Beacon Health Systems. Near the time that subsidy was passed, Beacon Health Systems publicly announced it would no longer accept Medicaid patients. In South Bend and our nation today, large institutions are abandoning the poor or working class. One of the few remaining democratic institutions designed to defend residents is the South Bend Common Council. At this moment, the City of South Bend is sitting on approximately $12 million in the Rainy Day Fund and over $80 million in the General Fund. These reserves represent our collective tax dollars, and in an emergency such as this, they must be leveraged to feed our residents. Sincerely, Black Lives Matter South Bend Henry Davis, Jr., Former 2nd District South Bend Common Council Member Local Residents Supporting Bill No. 25-47 First Name Last Name Jorden Giger Olivier Morel Jahliya Giger Jorge Lopez Whitney James Sharon Holston Kay Westhues Ann McCallum Traci Winston Cassidy Fowler Linda Raven Robert Malone Alma Powell Charnelle Jones Aster Lanc Ellen Schott Olivia Hayes Peter Loutzenhiser Andrea Scott Jennifer Marisch Indi Jackson Chelsea Moffat Jessycka Smith Troy Moss Carlie McGregor Christiane vellner Lauren Steinhofer Alex M Nathaniel South Austin Glick Victoria McGrogan Dawn Keller Heath Hicks Spencer French Brooke Plummer Shawn Battleday Laura Rocca Lee Gloster Jamie McCurdie Jessica aldridge Aaron Leeper Miranda Schwabe Jacob Gollert Sam Johnson Lily Olson Katie Creech Mary Landis Nashele Hernandez Dawn Lovitt Kelly Garrett Chelsea Moyer mary henderson Sierra Landuit Carol Jarvis Meghan Taylor Michael Gonzales Dj Lovejoy Jesse Cruz Trina Detwiler Whitney Allen Genesis Easton Gabriel Efsits Elizabeth Schrader Tekona Henry Jean Buckingham Brandi Shank Karmen Duke Peggy jennings Kimberlee Johnson Serena Esparza Natalie Christiana Phyllis Emmons Shonece Bailey Kendra Simmons Zoie verstraete Salvador Linnie Nicole Justin Ella Tikvah Tucker Lynn Justin Dawn Leo Anita Sareen Trisha Louella Jenell Tracey Richard Linda Macy Andrea Payton Jennifer Erika Tyler Hannah Jessica Rodriguez Caye Gallegos Wallsich Smith Cataldo Walker Mahoney Pletzke Turpin D'Hoore Anita Sareen Cousino-Waggy Gary Martin Wheaton Hall Liptrap Gutierrez Lehman Rogers Trammell Robinson De La Rosa Selsor Stowe Chism shannon hoyt Philip Faraci Elinor Britton Juanita Ryan M.T. Giddings Audrey Filonczuk Savino Rivera Jr. Anne Thacker Valerie Chavers Helen Gilbride Matthew Forst Kalen Guynes Allison Franklin Rowan Hornbeck Trisha Spice Kiyah Reith Taylor Watts Jason Diggins Emily Sharp Mikya sabbs Brandon Allen Mark Anella Adisa Basic Makayla Manta Geraldine Casey Brittnee Thompson Lindsey Balliet Gisselle Hernandez Daazya Taylor Yemoja Redding Jessica Buszkiewicz Jonah Sherck Jesse Varga Taylor Morseau Hunter Stevens Pamela Ann Claeys T Morris Raquan Smith Katie Mochamer Sicerie Brooks Caitlyn Cissna Keturah Brooks Daniel Brandt Kristine Schulke Phyllis Hostetler Pamela Condly Margaret Cagle Myra L Butts Emmanuel Cannady Daniel Jackson Amelia Hudson Jacob Jimenez Mit Bennett Onjanette Dancler Anima Johnson Charline Ward Cheyanne Hinton Tara Spurrier Andrew Pierce Lisa Cunningham Kelli Brien Shayna Breslin Kathy Fodge Prepared Questions Black Lives Matter South Bend 11.10.2025 1. How do we ensure the funding for food assistance reaches South Bend residents? 2. Will any portion of arrearages under the bill moratorium be wiped or zeroed out at the end of the moratorium period? If not, how is this different from merely delaying a shut-off? 3. How many SNAP recipients and households can actually be served with $122,000 given that there are roughly 20,000 SNAP recipients in the City? 4. What is the City's per -household relief target? Is there a published maximum per family and how is that equitable or scaled based on household size? 5. What happens when families receive only partial SNAP reloads (as currently expected)? Is the City planning a second phase that actually bridges households until full SNAP benefits are restored — or is this the only intervention? 6. How is this money approved without a vote from the council? 7. Can we use a PILoT program for such emergencies? 8. What are the accountability measures for the money already committed? 9. What are the rules for the shutoffs and how will people recover? 10. Is there any special assistance for seniors? 11. If the financial burden is too heavy, have there been conversations with the University of Notre Dame & Pokagon Band? 12. Where is the school corporation in their level of assistance? 13. Is the administration preparing a roundtable of supporters to create a sustainable plan? 14. Is the mayor working with mayors throughout the state, region or country on next steps? 15. Are we working with the governor or are we going to sue for the money at the state level?