Overview
- The law passed last year is reported to reduce SNAP and Medicaid funding by more than $1 trillion over the next decade, impose stricter work requirements, and shift more costs to states.
- State officials anticipate tens of thousands in West Virginia will lose benefits in a county where roughly one in three households uses SNAP.
- After coal’s collapse, McDowell’s population has dropped to about 17,000 and the median household income is roughly $30,000.
- Residents describe contaminated tap water and related health issues, with some collecting water from an old mine shaft or depending on deliveries.
- The governor earmarked $8.3 million for water and sewer upgrades, as food prices nearly 20% higher than in 2022 and a recent SNAP interruption have driven more people to local charities.