Stop the Shutdown Crisis: Protect Food & Heating Assistance in Western PA
Stop the Shutdown Crisis: Protect Food & Heating Assistance in Western PA
The Issue
My wife and I have both relied on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in the past when we needed help to keep food on the table and heat in our home.
We know what it feels like to make the hard choices — which bill can wait, or how to stretch groceries through the week.
These programs didn’t just help us survive; they gave us the chance to rebuild.
Now, with the federal government shutdown, families across Western Pennsylvania are being left in limbo.
Delays in SNAP and LIHEAP mean parents, seniors, and working families are facing hunger, cold, and fear of the unknown.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP every month.
Over 302,000 households depend on LIHEAP for heating assistance during the winter.
In Allegheny County, an estimated 140,000 residents face food insecurity — not knowing where their next meal will come from.
That’s about 13% of our community relying on SNAP just to get by.
These aren’t numbers — they’re our neighbors.
Families in Tarentum, Creighton, New Kensington, Springdale, Oakmont, Arnold, and across District 33 are being hit hardest.
Shutdown politics in Washington shouldn’t decide whether Western PA families eat or stay warm.
We’re calling on our state and federal leaders to act now and:
✅ Ensure SNAP continues without interruption.
✅ Secure emergency funding for LIHEAP so no family loses heat this winter.
✅ Create a backup plan so families stay fed and warm during shutdowns.
✅ Keep communities informed about food and heating assistance updates.
This petition isn’t about politics — it’s about people.
Hunger and cold should never be bargaining chips in Washington.
Every family deserves dignity, security, and the assurance they can meet their most basic needs — no matter what’s happening in government.
Our goal is simple: to ensure Western Pennsylvania families have the support they need to stay fed, stay warm, and stay hopeful through the winter ahead.
Together, we can send a clear message that #HungerCantWait — not for politics, not for budgets, not for negotiations.
✍️ Please sign and share this petition to stand with families across Western PA.
Every signature is one more voice saying compassion and community come first.
215
The Issue
My wife and I have both relied on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) and LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program) in the past when we needed help to keep food on the table and heat in our home.
We know what it feels like to make the hard choices — which bill can wait, or how to stretch groceries through the week.
These programs didn’t just help us survive; they gave us the chance to rebuild.
Now, with the federal government shutdown, families across Western Pennsylvania are being left in limbo.
Delays in SNAP and LIHEAP mean parents, seniors, and working families are facing hunger, cold, and fear of the unknown.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, more than 1.8 million Pennsylvanians rely on SNAP every month.
Over 302,000 households depend on LIHEAP for heating assistance during the winter.
In Allegheny County, an estimated 140,000 residents face food insecurity — not knowing where their next meal will come from.
That’s about 13% of our community relying on SNAP just to get by.
These aren’t numbers — they’re our neighbors.
Families in Tarentum, Creighton, New Kensington, Springdale, Oakmont, Arnold, and across District 33 are being hit hardest.
Shutdown politics in Washington shouldn’t decide whether Western PA families eat or stay warm.
We’re calling on our state and federal leaders to act now and:
✅ Ensure SNAP continues without interruption.
✅ Secure emergency funding for LIHEAP so no family loses heat this winter.
✅ Create a backup plan so families stay fed and warm during shutdowns.
✅ Keep communities informed about food and heating assistance updates.
This petition isn’t about politics — it’s about people.
Hunger and cold should never be bargaining chips in Washington.
Every family deserves dignity, security, and the assurance they can meet their most basic needs — no matter what’s happening in government.
Our goal is simple: to ensure Western Pennsylvania families have the support they need to stay fed, stay warm, and stay hopeful through the winter ahead.
Together, we can send a clear message that #HungerCantWait — not for politics, not for budgets, not for negotiations.
✍️ Please sign and share this petition to stand with families across Western PA.
Every signature is one more voice saying compassion and community come first.
215
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Petition created on October 28, 2025