SNAP Crisis in West Virginia — A Wake-Up Call for Real Investment
- louassarowvhouse
- Oct 30
- 2 min read
As the federal government shutdown drags on, West Virginians face a grim reality: SNAP benefits may not be issued in November, leaving hundreds of thousands without the means to buy food. While the GOP scrambles to shift blame, the real question is this: Why are so many West Virginians dependent on SNAP in the first place?
According to the USDA, over 274,000 West Virginians — nearly 1 in 6 residents — rely on SNAP to feed their families. Half of these households include elderly or disabled individuals. This isn’t just about temporary hardship. It’s about systemic neglect.
West Virginia ranks near the bottom nationally in job growth, infrastructure investment, and educational outcomes. Our young people leave for better opportunities, and those who stay often face stagnant wages, limited access to healthcare, and underfunded schools. SNAP isn’t the problem — it’s a symptom.
If we want to reduce reliance on federal food assistance, we must invest in West Virginia’s future:
Modernize infrastructure to attract new industries and jobs
Fund public schools and vocational programs to prepare our workforce
Expand recreational and cultural opportunities to retain families and talent
Support small businesses and local agriculture to strengthen our economy from the ground up
This isn’t about political blame — it’s about leadership. The shutdown is a failure of governance, but the deeper failure is decades of underinvestment in our people. West Virginians deserve more than survival. We deserve a state where families thrive, not just scrape by.
Let’s stop treating poverty as a partisan talking point and start treating it as a solvable challenge. Invest in West Virginia. Empower our people. End the cycle. During the upcoming 2026 WV elections, you'll have a choice. I'm Lou Assaro, a candidate for the West Virginia House of Delegates, District 69.
