Poverty and Safety Net Programs

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.