Although it’s been just short of a year since the “Big Beautiful Bill” was enacted, many cuts it made to the safety net are just now being phased in.
On the first of April, non-citizens lost eligibility for food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). As a result, some of our friends and neighbors here in Alameda will no longer have access to CalFresh benefits, the state’s version of SNAP.
Another provision of the bill, which goes into effect June 1, would broaden the definition of an able-bodied adult without dependents, decrease the age of eligible dependents, and broaden the age range in which work requirements are necessary to remain eligible for SNAP and thus CalFresh. These two changes will result in a significant number of people losing access to CalFresh benefits, which will make it harder for them to keep themselves and their families fed—especially as food prices continue to rise. This in turn will significantly increase demand at our Island Community Market.
Despite the fact that we already are serving a record-breaking number of people—987 families in one day last December and nearly 1,600 families each week in 2026—we’re redoubling our efforts to be sure that everyone in Alameda who needs our help knows how to get it…