The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday voted to provide more than $1 million to help residents who’ve lost federal food assistance due to a government shutdown in Washington, D.C.

The federal government shut down Oct. 1 when lawmakers failed to reach a budget agreement.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, often referred to as SNAP and formerly called food stamps, ran out of funding at the end of October due to the political impasse. As of Tuesday, federal officials said they will use contingency funds to provide half of the November benefits to the country’s 42 million SNAP beneficiaries.

Gov. Kay Ivey also announced Tuesday that she would release $2 million in state emergency funds to be donated to support eight food banks that serve residents in all 67 counties.

The measure approved Tuesday by the Birmingham council will have the United Way administer the $1 million and provide it to eligible residents.

To be eligible, residents must prove that they receive SNAP benefits and live within Birmingham’s city limits. Those who qualify will receive $100 for individuals and $200 for families.

Officials will be announcing how residents can apply.

Cedric Sparks, chief of staff to Mayor Randall Woodfin, said the city has between 23,000 and 24,000 residents eligible for SNAP.

“The goal is to try and support all of them,” Sparks told the council Tuesday. “Support will come from the city, which will be seed money, and then private donations, which will come from individuals, houses of faith and corporations.”

Sparks said city leaders set up a website to take donations from the community. In just a few days, it has received $83,000 — including a $50,000 donation from Shipt and $10,000 from United Way.

Councilor Crystal Smitherman, whose district has about 5,000 people who receive SNAP benefits, said she appreciates the mayor’s administration for bringing the measure forward.

“I just want to acknowledge the anxiety I know that thousands of people in Birmingham and nationwide are experiencing. I think all of us feel the hurt when we go into the grocery store and see prices increase day by day, and I know if I feel it myself, I can’t imagine having my only source of income to get food put on the table (taken away),” she said.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Council President Wardine Alexander asked Sparks to explain a last-minute addition to the measure, making the total $1,090,000. He said that additional $90,000 includes a $60,000 administrative fee for the United Way and $30,000 to pay convenience fees for the credit or debit cards that will be issued to qualifying residents.

Smitherman asked Sparks what the administration’s plan was for December if the political impasse continues.

Sparks said the administration won’t come to the council for another budget request and will instead challenge the community to fill the gap.

Councilor Darrell O’Quinn asked what happens to the local funds if the government ends up providing all food assistance promised. Sparks said the administration is coordinating with United Way and major donors on how to handle that scenario. One option would be to place the money in a fund designated for a future food insecurity emergency, he said.

Alexander added that the loss of SNAP benefits is not just traumatic for families but hurts local economies, too.

“For every $1 in SNAP benefits, about $1.50 is generated in economic activity — this directly impacts our local businesses, especially small and independent stores in neighborhoods with limited grocery access,” she was quoted as saying in a release. “People buy less, and small businesses — many of which already struggle to stay afloat — will face even more hardship if this funding is stopped. Larger box stores and discount stores have the capacity to weather this storm, but many of our locally owned businesses do not. This is not a political issue. It’s a human issue. People are scared and unsure about what comes next.”

Council members urged residents to donate to the city’s Community Food Drive, which will run through Thursday at Christian Service Mission, at 3600 3rd Ave. S. Drop-off hours for nonperishable goods and paper products will be from 7:30 a.m. through 4 p.m.

City leaders also said residents seeking food assistance should go to  www.birminghamal.gov/bhamready to find information about local services.

In other business Tuesday, the council agreed to provide up to $750,000 toward the 2029 Senior Games in Birmingham. These games, which also were held in the Magic City in 2017, are expected to bring an economic impact of $38 million, with nearly 30,000 competitors and visitors expected to attend.