KANSAS CITY, MO. (KCTV 5) — Amethyst Place has been helping single moms and their children recover from generational substance use, poverty and trauma for over 20 years. The nonprofit provides long-term safe, supportive housing and access to basic needs. They currently help 69 families, almost all of which rely on SNAP benefits.
“These are all single moms who have an average of 3-4 children and are just overcoming being unhoused,” said Sarah Knopf-Amelung, Amethyst House’s Director of Strategy and Growth. “So, you can imagine they’re in a pretty precarious position financially.”
She says SNAP benefits allows the moms to provide for their families while also going back to school or getting back into the work force.
“It’s really hard as a single mom to provide for your family like that no matter how hard you’re working,” said Knopf-Amelung. “To have SNAP benefits paused or reduced this month is really a big blow to these families. I’ve talked with a lot of the moms; there’s a high level of stress and anxiety looking at the news every day to see what new changes are coming down. Already as it is, these families are coming out of toxic stress and try to get back into a stable life. This is really destabilizing for them.”
Knopf-Amelung showed their food pantry, which she says takes around $1,000 to re-supply each week. She says they’re likely going to have to double that amount.
“The places we get food from like Harvesters are also being impacted, so that impacts what we’re able to receive and we end up spending more out of pocket,” said Knopf-Amelung.
It comes after an already difficult year following delays in funding from the county as the nonprofit was growing, opening a new housing campus earlier this year.
“We’re getting our money back thankfully, but we had to really watch our spending, control costs, and really live in a conservative way in order to make ends meet this year,” said Knopf-Amelung. “Now having to account for unexpected costs like rising food costs and all the support we provide for the families is just another challenge thrown in our way.”
Amethyst Place accepts food donations, hygiene and cleaning products Knopf-Amelung says immediately goes to the families they serve. The nonprofit also accepts monetary donations on its website.
“We accept household furnishings, clothing, all those basic essentials,” said Knopf-Amelung. “The more we receive from donations, the less we have to spend in cash that we can put towards other expenses that are vital. If the community can chip in any way they are able, and I know a lot of people are hurting right now, but every little bit helps.”
As the government shutdown continues, Knopf-Amelung stresses the importance of remembering the people being impacted.
“These are really hard-working people trying to provide for their children who rely on this as a supplement to the income they are making,” said Knopf-Amelung. “With the costs rising, these benefits are more important now than ever. We’re all a paycheck away or so from possible financial struggles. I want you to think about the fact that these families are deserving of food. It’s a human right and a basic need.”