(Martinez, Calif.) – The Board of Supervisors has proclaimed a local emergency due to the federal government shutdown disrupting CalFresh funding which threatens the food security of 107,020 individuals in Contra Costa County. More than half of the County’s CalFresh recipients (58,861) are children and older adults. CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Food Assistance Program (SNAP), provides critical food assistance to households and County residents.
“We recognize the hardship this creates for many in our community,” said Board Chair Candace Andersen, District 2 Supervisor. “The lapse in government funding for SNAP benefits not only impacts vulnerable residents who depend on food assistance but also threatens the stability of local grocers and the capacity of the Contra Costa County Food Collaborative to meet increasing demand.”
The Board unanimously approved to allocate up to $21,000,000 from the General Fund to purchase debit cards for distribution to CalFresh November eligible households, and authorize the Employment & Human Services Department (EHSD) to 1) execute a contract amendment to purchase and distribute the debit cards so CalFresh-eligible households can purchase food, and 2) activate and deploy its staff as disaster workers to support the distribution at the department’s busiest locations…