Factors combine to boost hunger across Southern New Mexico

SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO – A perfect storm of factors appears to be driving extra demand for food assistance across the southern half of the state.  First, in line with the federal government’s declared end of the pandemic emergency, financial aid to families for food via the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits program – often called food stamps – sharply declined at the end of February. Secondly, inflation and steep rising costs of food, rent and utilities have squeezed household budgets. Plus, advocates say there’s a backlog at the state level in processing new SNAP applications.