- November 16, 2025
Halifax Urban Ministries needs help, Executive Director Roy Young said.
Since the federal government shutdown began on Oct. 1, HUM, located in the Daytona area, has seen an uptick in the amount of people coming to them for food donations and meals than is typical. More alarming, Young said, is that the pantry shelves are running empty.
“Usually they're full, so the number of donations we've been receiving is down, and the need is up,” he said.
Young said HUM is asking for more food donations from individuals, businesses and local churches to support the community HUM feeds.
Halifax Urban Ministries operates two homeless shelters in Volusia, prepares 350 hot meals a day to low income people in the community and supplies five different pantries with groceries, Young said. In 2024, HUM delivered 125,000 prepared meals and 200,000 tons of groceries.
HUM feeds “a substantial number” of people in the community, he said. And with federal SNAP, or food stamps, benefits running out of funding for November, Young said “the need is going to increase substantially.”
In October, The Trump administration warned funding for SNAP benefits would run out on Nov. 1 because of the government shutdown. But two federal judges ruled on Oct. 31 that freezing funding for the program was “unlawful,” according to an NPR news article.
In response to the ruling, the administration announced it will only pay out half the amount of SNAP benefits because of a lack of funding.
According to FLHealthCharts.gov, in 2023, 7.9% of all households in Flagler County received SNAP benefits, while 13.1% of households in Volusia County received them.
In 2025 in Volusia County, 81,850 people – or 14.4% of Volusia County – are food insecure, according to data from Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, which serves the Volusia County area and six other counties.
Young said he thinks the slow decline in donations can be attributed to the general economy and cost of living increases. Since the shutdown began, he said they have been keeping a close eye on their food stores in the pantries. But at a month in the situation is concerning.
Food insecurity has direct ties to homelessness, too, Young said, and the lack of SNAP benefits or other access to food could place those in HUM’s homeless prevention programs at risk again.
“What we know to be true, statistically,” Young said, “is that if you are food insecure, if you need to decide whether or not you're going to pay rent or you're going to buy food for your family, that's the first step towards homelessness.”
HUM’s homeless prevention team is concerned there will be an uptick in claims over the next few months as people will not be able to afford their rent because they have to pay more toward food, he said.
HUM's two homeless shelters are already serving around 150 people between them. Barracks of Hope, which helps veterans, currently has 25 veterans on its campus and at Hope Place, which serves families, there are 125 people. In the community, Young said there are also a few hundred families HUM has helped place in homes through its programs that HUM's volunteers follow up with.
With the limited housing space available, Young said, “trying to keep people in their housing is really the mission right now by making food available.”
“It takes nothing to get back into a hole,” Young said. “It happens quickly. Families are living paycheck to paycheck, so if all of a sudden your food assistance is gone, it's only a matter of time until you're unable to pay your rent or your mortgage.”
HUM typically receives its food donations from churches in the Daytona area and faith-based organizations and has typically been well supported in the past. On Nov. 6, HUM is receiving 850 boxes of food from Volusia County through Second Harvest Food Bank. But there is always a need, Young said.
“The number one line item in my budget every year is still the purchasing of food,” he said. “There’s never enough. As it comes in, we give it out.”
