Learn About the Lawsuit

At Federal Hill House, our mission is simple but profound: to help our neighbors in Federal Hill, Olneyville, and the surrounding community thrive, at every stage of life. But it’s impossible to thrive when you don’t have food to eat.

That’s why Federal Hill House has joined a coalition of local governments, charitable and faith-based nonprofit organizations, small businesses, and workers’ rights organizations to file a lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Rhode Island challenging the Trump-Vance administration’s unlawful suspension of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). We are grateful for the representation of the Lawyers’ Committee for Rhode Island and Democracy Forward.

The federal government intends leave 143,000 Rhode Islanders without the support they rely on to buy food on November 1. That’s nearly $1 million in lost food purchasing power each day across our state.

Federal Hill House operates one of the busiest food pantries in Rhode Island, already serving 3,600 unique households across nearly 19,000 visits this year—an 11% increase over the same time period in 2024. We are proud to provide food, connection, and support every day—but we also know that no local effort can fill a $1 million-a-day gap in federal nutrition benefits.

This lawsuit reflects our commitment not only to service, but to justice.

You can read the full press release with a list of co-plaintiffs and the filing here.

Thank you for standing with us—in service, in solidarity, and in defense of the values that keep our communities strong.

With gratitude,
Kimberly Fernandez
Executive Director
Federal Hill House