When a government shutdown cuts off SNAP benefits, it doesn’t just disrupt a system; it disrupts lives. Overnight, millions of people are left wondering how they’ll eat, where they’ll turn, and what they’ll sacrifice to get through the week. For anyone who’s ever lived with food instability, that fear is familiar: the constant calculations, the skipped meals, the quiet negotiations with yourself. But programs like BAY-CASH change what’s possible. With consistent, unconditional cash support, young adults can buy the food they need, make real choices, and move through the world with dignity instead of desperation. BAY-CASH isn’t a handout; it’s a path to stability, agency, and a future where survival isn’t the goal, thriving is.

By Warren C.