As the federal government shutdown continues into its second month, San Francisco officials have announced measures to support about 112,000 residents who use Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Mayor Daniel Lurie, the Board of Supervisors, and the Crankstart Foundation have created an $18 million emergency fund to help families maintain access to food assistance during the federal funding gap.
The emergency fund is a public-private partnership. The City of San Francisco is providing $9.1 million from its reserves, and Crankstart is contributing $9 million. This funding will offer one-time emergency aid to SNAP recipients in November. The program is being coordinated with GiveCard and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank to distribute prepaid cards for use at grocery stores.
Mayor Lurie said the city is committed to supporting residents affected by the shutdown. The Board of Supervisors approved the funding proposal. Crankstart CEO Missy Narula said the foundation aims to help San Franciscans maintain access to food…