Federal funding freezes and shutdown batter Ohio anti-poverty agency
A January federal funding freeze ordered by the Trump administration and a later shutdown pushed the Huntington Area Progressive Community Action Program (HAPCAP) into "immediate emergency response mode," after executive director Kelly Hatas said 80% of the nonprofit’s budget comes from federal grants and large programs like Meals on Wheels, Head Start, public buses, employment services and a 10‑county food bank were paused. The suspensions of heating-assistance and SNAP during the shutdown drove spikes in demand at places like The Market pantry in Logan — clients queued before dawn for limited aid and beneficiaries such as 61‑year‑old Lisa Murphy fell behind on a $298 gas bill when SNAP was paused for two weeks.
📌 Key Facts
- During the recent federal shutdown, heating assistance and SNAP benefits were suspended, causing immediate hardship for low-income residents.
- The Market food pantry in Logan, Ohio saw heightened demand as clients were left behind on utility bills and food when those benefits were paused.
- HAPCAP (Hocking-Athens-Perry Community Action Program) receives about 80% of its budget from federal grants, making it highly vulnerable to federal funding disruptions.
- In January, the Trump administration ordered a federal funding freeze that forced HAPCAP into an “immediate emergency response mode,” according to executive director Kelly Hatas.
- HAPCAP’s broad portfolio — including Meals on Wheels, Head Start, public buses, employment services and a 10-county food bank — made it a particularly large target for cuts and pauses in 2025, amplifying operational uncertainty.
- On-the-ground accounts describe severe impacts: a 61-year-old disabled woman, Lisa Murphy, fell behind on a $298 gas bill after SNAP was paused for two weeks, and clients were lining up before dawn for limited heating-aid slots.
📊 Relevant Data
The poverty rate in Appalachia was 14.2% between 2019 and 2023, compared to 12.5% for the United States as a whole.
Income and Poverty in Appalachia — Appalachian Regional Commission
In Ohio, the poverty rate for Black individuals is 26.4%, compared to 10.6% for White individuals, based on 2022 data.
Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity | KFF State Health Facts — KFF
In Ohio, Black individuals make up 25% of Medicaid enrollees, while comprising 12.5% of the state's population, based on recent data.
Medicaid Enrollees by Race/Ethnicity | KFF State Health Facts — KFF
Approximately 37% of SNAP participants in Ohio identify as White, compared to White individuals comprising about 81% of the state's population.
Almost 12% of Ohio's population receives SNAP benefits. In 2023 ... — WOSU Public Media (Facebook)
The decline of the coal industry is a major cause of poverty in Appalachian Ohio, contributing to limited job opportunities and economic stagnation.
10 Causes & Solutions To Poverty In Appalachia — End Poverty Now Inc.
In Ohio, Black individuals, who make up 12% of the population, comprised 49% of the homeless population in Cincinnati, indicating overrepresentation.
Fact Sheet - Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition — Greater Cincinnati Homeless Coalition
📰 Sources (2)
- Confirms that The Market food pantry in Logan, Ohio saw heightened demand because both heating assistance and SNAP benefits were suspended during the recent federal shutdown, leaving clients behind on utility bills and food.
- Quotes HAPCAP executive director Kelly Hatas saying 80% of the nonprofit’s budget comes from federal grants and that the worst day of her career was in January when the Trump administration ordered a federal funding freeze that put the agency into 'immediate emergency response mode.'
- Details that HAPCAP’s broad portfolio — Meals on Wheels, Head Start, public buses, employment help and a 10‑county food bank — made it a particularly large target for cuts and pauses in 2025, amplifying operational uncertainty.
- Provides on‑the‑ground accounts from beneficiaries like Lisa Murphy, a 61‑year‑old disabled woman on Social Security who fell behind on a $298 gas bill after SNAP was paused for two weeks, and from clients lining up before dawn for limited heating‑aid slots.