LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- As the government shutdown stretches into its 27th day, families across Kentucky who depend on federal food benefits are growing more anxious about what could come next.

At New Directions Housing Corporation in Louisville, Desirae Pierson said the possibility of losing her SNAP benefits in November is already forcing her to make difficult choices.

“I have been receiving SNAP benefits for one year now,” Pierson said. “They help by keeping food on the table for me and my children while I’m in school pursuing my degree.”

Pierson, a single mother of two, said her monthly $500 food allotment makes all the difference.

“I just have to make sure I’m buying the things that I can cook,” she said. “I don’t buy any junk food or anything like that.”

But if the shutdown continues, Pierson said she could lose those benefits altogether.

“Yes, I will not see any benefits in November,” she said. “It will mean that I will have to rely on what I have stocked up in the past and just rely on my family that can support me, unfortunately, at this time.”

Pierson said she moved to Louisville to pursue her education and build a better future, but now fears the shutdown could undo her progress.

“It’s stressful, just being a single parent and being alone in Louisville — I’m in a new city,” she said. “I would probably have to move back home.”

With 42 million Americans at risk of losing food assistance next month, Pierson hopes Congress can reach an agreement soon.

“I hope to see the government reopen back immediately, hopefully today,” she said. “We need it open now so we don’t have any issues in November.”

At a stop in Kentucky on Monday, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul said he supports reopening parts of the government while continuing to debate larger spending and policy issues.

“I think we should open the government — the sooner, the better,” Paul said. “I voted last week to at least start paying the people who are working: our soldiers, our air traffic controllers, all the essential people that are involved with distributing things for government. We should pay them, and we should get at least that portion of government open.”

Paul said he has voted to move forward on several appropriations bills and believes there’s a path to compromise.

“I do think that there is a compromise to be had,” he said. “And what I’ve been suggesting is that President Trump announce a commission — three Republicans, three Democrats — to study the issue of healthcare premiums and come up with a solution in the next few weeks.”

Paul added that ending the trade war with China would also help struggling farmers across the Commonwealth.

“The tariff war with China is incredibly damaging, particularly to our farmers,” he said. “Last year, the Chinese bought $13 billion worth of soybeans. This year, zero.”

While Senator Paul called for both parties to work toward reopening the government, he also pushed for fiscal discipline.

“My plan is called the penny plan,” he said. “It balances the budget over five years, and it’s a 6% across-the-board cut to everything. Now, if you wanted more for one entity and less for another, that would be figured out in the debate.”

Still, he said, the first step is to get the government open.

“Let’s open the government,” Senator Paul said. “Let’s have this commission — equal Republicans, equal Democrats. The president buys in, and I’m going to try to come up with a solution.”

At a separate event in Kentucky, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell didn’t directly address the shutdown. But his guest, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, didn’t hold back.

“I call it a misery march, a road to nowhere,” Capito said. “What do you do with a government shutdown? You reopen the government. There’s no other end other than reopening the government.”

Capito said the longer the shutdown continues, the more families will suffer.

“This is a total disservice to everybody sitting in this room and the vast amount of people who are now getting more and more individually impacted by this,” she said. “We honestly don’t know what is going to happen this week.”

Kentucky Rep. Morgan McGarvey, D-Louisville, signed a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins from Democratic Congress members calling on the USDA to use "multi-year contingency funding" available. 

"Choosing not to ensure SNAP benefits reach those in need this November would be a gross dereliction of your responsibilities to the American people," the letter reads, in part.

McGarvey's office said the lawmakers sent the letter over comments suggesting SNAP will run out of funding and no benefits will be issued in November. Lawmakers accuse USDA of previously confirming in a Sept. 30 shutdown plan that SNAP has the funding available to prevent a lapse in benefits in the event of a federal government shutdown.

"USDA’s shutdown plan acknowledges that 'Congressional intent is evident that SNAP’s operations should continue since the program has been provided with multi-year contingency funds...' USDA still has significant funding available in SNAP’s contingency reserve – which Congress provides precisely for this reason – that can be used to fund the bulk of November benefits," the letter continues, in part.

For families like Pierson’s, that uncertainty is taking a toll — especially with the holidays approaching.

“I felt really bad, sad for all the other families that are going through the same thing,” Pierson said. “Just knowing that Thanksgiving is literally around the corner — it’s unfortunate, and we’re just trying to figure out what we’re gonna do.”

Even in the face of uncertainty, she said she’s holding on to hope.

“I smile to keep from crying, but I know that God is by my side,” she said. “I just want to see what’s going to happen.”

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