County officials estimate that as many as 50,000 residents could be affected by the changes, which tighten eligibility requirements for safety net programs that provide health coverage and food assistance to low-income individuals.
“From being homeless to readapting in society is already hard enough,” said Shelly Redden, a Kern County resident who relies on Medi-Cal and food banks after recently overcoming homelessness.
Redden, who now faces a pending disability, said the proposed requirements could create additional barriers…