Low-income households cannot afford basic utilities as SNAP benefits decrease while energy costs rise simultaneously

Low-income families in Columbia are facing a financial squeeze where SNAP (food assistance) benefits are being reduced at the exact moment utility companies are raising rates, forcing households to choose between food and heating/cooling. Current solutions like utility assistance programs have long waitlists, complex application processes, and insufficient funding to cover the gap between reduced benefits and increased costs. Families lack a coordinated way to navigate both benefit changes and rate increases simultaneously.