Over the weekend, several food assistance centers in Miami-Dade and Broward were abruptly shut down by local and state officials because of “health and safety concerns,” turning away thousands who lined up for the benefits.
Authorities said the crowd was just too overwhelming, leaving gridlocked streets at a standstill. Medics and police had to respond to many cases of heat exhaustion, as well as fights among “frustrated participants” applying for D-SNAP, the Department of Children and Families’ Disaster Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The DCF program offers food benefits in 48 counties to households that sustained disaster-related losses and qualify under the program’s income limits. Activated in response to Hurricane Irma last month, the program gives successful applicants EBT cards with funds that activate within two to three days so they can buy groceries for the upcoming month.
So what happens if you were turned away? Will there be another opportunity to apply for the benefits?
According to DCF, yes, they just don’t known when and where yet.
Read more at our news partner, the Miami Herald.
