Md. officials: SNAP helped thousands during pandemic, but challenges navigating system remain

Mark Griffin had a good-paying job as an ophthalmological assistant for two decades, earning enough to purchase a $150,000 home in Baltimore. But a catastrophic car accident a few years ago eroded his financial stability dramatically. At a Senate Finance Committee hearing in Annapolis on Tuesday, Griffin described how he was able to piece together a subsistence living using several government assistance initiatives. Griffin qualified for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)  — commonly known as food stamps — but gradually saw his monthly benefit decline from about $170 a month to $11 a month.