Last Friday the 12th, at the Department of Human Services office in Nashville, the wait for SNAP benefits stretched on for hours, with some people sitting on the floor. One single mother expressed difficulty being served and was forced to leave before getting information on the status of her application.
Meanwhile, more than half a dozen people have resorted to calls to the NewsChannel5 newsroom as a last resort, highlighting the desperation of those who have waited months for their renewals to be approved, as is the case with Angel in Winchester. In the latter's words, the situation is urgent: "We are desperate." "I'm still waiting for the call from Family First," Angel said.
Those affected asked NewsChannel 5 not to reveal their faces for privacy reasons. Although Angel was able to obtain his EBT card, he is still waiting for financial support to cover the costs of caring for his children. Desperate, he said, "I made a thousand requests and calls, but no one answered. I had to stop working to take care of my son. If we don't get help, we could end up on the streets and face a lot of danger."
Concerned about the situation, he applied to work at the local DHS office to help with the backlog in Winchester. Angel emphasized, "I need to move forward, I have a daughter who depends on me and I need a job to start generating income."
Another struggling woman Lela McKnight, who also contacted the newsroom, has been waiting for her renewal in Dickson County since November. She expressed her frustration as she recounted, "I kept calling them until my phone battery died." McKnight noted the difficulties families faced during the vacations and emphasized that, as the New Year arrives, they are still awaiting SNAP benefits. "I feel terrible for allowing this to go on, I'm sure he had his Christmas dinner," she said criticizing Governor Lee.