Paper Plate Stories: Celebrating Six Victories to End Hunger

As part of September’s Hunger Action Month, Hunger Advocacy Network member organizations across San Diego County collected stories from clients, volunteers, and community leaders about how hunger affects them and their communities. These people wrote their stories on paper plates to share with elected officials and the public how hunger impacts those in our community every day. These efforts are especially important as the California legislature makes its final decisions on legislation that would have a positive impact in reducing food insecurity.

Every year, the partner organizations of the Hunger Advocacy Network consider all the legislation proposed by the California Assembly and the Senate. We focus our advocacy efforts on initiatives that will make a lasting impact on reducing food insecurity in San Diego County.

Along with our statewide partners, including MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger, California Food Policy Associates, California Association of Food Banks, and the Western Center on Law and Poverty, the Hunger Advocacy Network continues to leverage the combined expertise of our 21 member organizations to advocate for policies in Sacramento that address the needs of San Diegans that go hungry. With the State legislative cycle drawing to a close, we have a lot of success to be proud of and plenty of momentum to continue our efforts.

Six Legislative Changes that will Reduce Local Hunger

The Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit (AB 1577): This credit helps reduce waste by encouraging farmers to donate excess fruits and vegetables to food banks to feed families throughout the county.  Every dollar in credit leverages approximately 10 – 20 pounds of donated food. Along with our statewide partners, we were able to increase the credit to 15% and extend the program through 2022. Approximately 80% of the produce distributed by Feeding San Diego and San Diego Food Bank is the result of this important tax credit.  

YES - This program was included in the State budget agreement that was signed by Governor Brown.

Food Assistance for Higher Education Students (AB 1747):  As the cost for college rises, fewer working class families have the resources to support their children in securing a degree and there are increasing incidences of student hunger and homelessness.  Proposed by local Assembly Member Shirley Weber, this legislation offers meaningful steps in supporting students struggling with food insecurity by establishing the Public Higher Education Pantry Assistance Program for supporting on-campus food pantries and hunger relief efforts for low-income students.  

YES - Governor Brown signed this important legislation on September 12, 2016.

Market Match Nutrition Incentive Funding:  The California Market Match program was launched in 2009 to encourage low-income families receiving nutrition benefits to purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. This program doubles the purchasing power of nutrition benefits, such as CalFresh and WIC when used to buy California grown fruits, nuts and vegetables at farmers’ markets.  The California budget agreement that was approved by Governor Brown, includes an investment of $5 million dollars in this important program.  This will allow the state to leverage $5 million in Federal matching funds resulting in at least $10 million for the expansion of local nutrition incentive programs. 

YES -  This funding was included in the California budget agreement approved by Governor Brown.

Streamlining CalFresh Eligibility (SB 1232):  Low wage workers face significant barriers to participation in the CalFresh Program. Few have paid time off or reliable transportation to get to the county welfare department for the application process. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2012 reporting, only 53 percent of eligible working families in California receive this federally funded food benefit. This legislation would ease the burden on families by requiring state and county agencies that administer the CalFresh Program to use existing employment and income verification databases to simplify the eligibility process for CalFresh applicants. 

YES - Governor Brown approved this legislation on September 12, 2016.

Ensuring School Breakfast for Children: One in four kids in San Diego County arrive to school without breakfast. Numerous studies have shown that eating breakfast can bolster academic achievement, reduce absenteeism and tardiness, and improve classroom behavior. Breakfast After the Bell programs bring breakfast into the classroom, ensuring all children have the nutrition they need to succeed. Our own Robin McNulty provided critical testimony on the effectiveness of this program to the State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance.

YES -  Governor Brown approved $2 million in funding in the State budget for public schools that want to startup or expand after-the-bell breakfast programs.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for the State Supplementary Program for the Aged, Blind and Disabled (SSP) (AB 1584): The state supplementary program awards monthly grants to help prevent seniors and other disabled adults from living in poverty. This benefit provides income support to individuals who are aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. Starting in 2008, cuts made by the Legislature and the Governor reduced grants to individuals to amounts well below the federal poverty level. This bill would be an incremental step in lifting over 1 million California seniors and disabled adults out of poverty by re-establishing the automatic cost-of-living adjustment as a permanent component of SSI/SSP.  

NO - Unfortunately, Governor Brown vetoed this full effort on September 25, 2016. However, along with advocates across the state we were successful in securing a small one-time increase to the SSI/SSP program in the State Budget Agreement.  

Thanks to the efforts of advocates like you, we’ve been able to help inform our policy makers and generate real systemic change for San Diegans facing hunger. However, there is still more work to be done. Please join us in our efforts to ensure that all San Diegans have access to food at all times for a healthy future. 

If you are interested in more information on how you can make a difference as an advocate, please contact Diane Wilkinson at the San Diego Hunger Coalition at diane@sdhunger.org or by calling 619-501-7917.  

Ending Student Hunger with Second Chance Breakfast

A successful day at school starts with nutrition. Unfortunately, the one in four children who arrive to school without having eaten breakfast are missing out on the fuel they need to concentrate and learn. There’s good news in San Diego: local schools that have implemented Breakfast After the Bell have seen a more than 200 percent increase in the number of students who participate in breakfast programs. 

How collaboration helped more students start the day with nutrition

Over the past year, San Diego Hunger Coalition has been a designated mentor to the San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD) to help implement alternate school breakfast programs. We provide technical assistance including site visits and remote consulting for the school district.  

Data on breakfast participation and interviews with students revealed that traditional breakfast models (served before school starts) had only increased student participation by two percent. The SDUSD team and Robin McNulty, our Director of School Meals Programs, recommended a Breakfast After the Bell model called Second Chance Breakfast, or “Grab n’ Go,” for middle schools. As the name implies, students eat breakfast during a break in the morning, usually between first and second periods. The food items are offered from mobile carts located in high traffic areas where there are many students.

From June 2015 to September 2016, the San Diego Unified School District targeted 20 middle schools to implement food carts as an alternative to the school breakfast served in the cafeteria. They have seen significant increases in breakfast participation at three middle schools and two high schools. One middle school, Wilson Middle, had an incredible increase of 260 percent in breakfast participation – going from only 60 breakfasts served in September 2015 to 495 breakfasts served in June 2016.

We are proud of the progress San Diego Unified School District has made in serving more children breakfast, and excited to show how Breakfast After the Bell can have a tremendous impact on students’ ability to succeed in school.

What We Can Learn From This Summer’s Meal Programs

Photo courtesy of San Diego Unified School District

During the summer months, thousands of children lose access to an important source of nutrition – school meals. It’s estimated 91,655 children in San Diego County are at risk of going hungry when school is out.

Sites in low-income areas across San Diego County offer free meals during the summer to keep these children from going hungry. Unfortunately, many kids don’t participate due to barriers like:

• Lack of awareness
• Difficulty accessing transportation
• Safety concerns

The Summer School Meals Task Force helps alleviate these barriers to ensure all kids have access to summer meals when school is out. This task force is a leading resource for starting new summer meal sites and improving existing sites, with the goal of increasing participation in summer meals countywide. 

As we look back on this summer, we thank these anti-hunger heroes for their tireless work to get the word out about summer meals sites:

• Summer Food Service Program sponsors
• School districts
• Park and Recreation Departments 
• County and City Library branches 
• YMCAs
• Boys and Girls Clubs
• Childcare centers
• County of San Diego HHSA nutrition educators
• Service locations
• Community partners
• Charitable food organizations
• Elected officials
• Local businesses

You can see a full list of the Summer Meals Task Force participating organizations here. The final counts for number of meals served and number of service locations will be available in late 2016 from the California Department of Education.  

As we celebrate the progress we made with our partners this summer, we remain committed to overcoming the barriers that keep kids from accessing food when school is out. San Diego Hunger Coalition will also continue work to make good nutrition convenient and affordable in kids’ everyday environments during the school year. 

Want to get updates on how we’re connecting San Diego children with the nutrition they need? Click here to sign up for our newsletter.

Why Thousands of Military Families Don’t Have Access to Food Assistance

Civilian families across the U.S. depend on SNAP -  known as CalFresh in California - to purchase the food they need to make ends meet. But thanks to a tangle of legal red tape, many military families in need are denied access to this vital food resource.

Roughly 1.4 million men and women serve as active duty personnel in the United States military. Their families comprise another nearly 2 million people. Just as the men and women in uniform serve and sacrifice for the safety and security of our nation, so do their spouses and children. These families cope admirably with the stress and instability of frequent moves and deployments and, sometimes, injury or death of their loved ones.

They also sacrifice financially. Unemployment of military spouses reaches up to 30% according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which has been attributed to frequent moves, deployments, a lack of job opportunities in some station locations, and increased parenting responsibilities due to the service members’ long hours. With reduced ability to have two breadwinners, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation found that in 2012 more than 40% of military personnel nationwide had difficulty making ends meet, rising to 56% of entry level personnel. Yet many of these families are not able to access the same federal assistance programs that other Americans rely on every day.

A Tangle of Red Tape

Rather than building and maintaining additional government-owned base housing, the Department of Defense (DoD) often relies on the private sector to address the housing needs for currently serving military families.  Military service members living off base receive a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The BAH is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. The intent of the BAH is to provide uniformed service members adequate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets.  Since BAH is provided in lieu of on-base housing, federal tax law exempts BAH from taxation as income; however, there is lack of uniformity in how the BAH is treated in various basic needs assistance programs for military families. For example:

• The IRS does not consider BAH taxable income and does not consider BAH to be earned income when determining eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program.
• The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program gives states the option to not count BAH as income for the purposes of determining eligibility and benefits.
• Treatment of BAH in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program varies state by state.
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that states must count BAH as income for the purposes of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. 
• Eligibility for free and reduced price school meals is also impacted by a military family’s housing.

The Basic Allowance for Housing was never intended to be considered income. We need to uniformly exempt the BAH from consideration as income or asset for any government assistance program. This is a common sense fix to streamline how military housing allowances are assessed across government programs. Our military families should never have to worry about how they will provide enough food for their children.

We can untangle the red tape and help these military families put food on the table.

We need your help. Will you sign this petition to help make sure our military families don't have to go to bed hungry? Together, we can help our nation's heroes.

Sign the Petition

The Hunger Advocacy Network, facilitated by the San Diego Hunger Coalition, represents the voice of these families and the nearly half a million San Diegans who don’t have ready access to healthy, affordable food. We share their experiences with policymakers nationwide and advocate for improvements to anti-hunger policies and programs.

Serving Up More Than Food This Summer

PHOTO CREDIT: SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

During summer vacation, many kids who rely upon free or reduced price school meals don’t have enough to eat. Sites in low-income areas across San Diego County offer free meals for children at risk of going hungry, but many are hard to access or parents aren’t aware of them. To bring more meals to kids at risk of hunger, many San Diego summer meal sites are combining nutrition with fun, educational and family-friendly activities – everything from magic shows to computer programming classes.

Our Summer Meals Task Force has found that pairing meal sites with existing kid-friendly, educational programs is an incredibly cost effective strategy for increasing awareness and participation. It also helps to remove stigma from the experience, giving kids in low-income areas the chance to enjoy carefree summer learning activities along with their peers. 

The summer meal site at the Casa De Oro library is a shining example of the potential for summer meal sites. Here are just a few of the activities the library provides alongside its summer meal program.

• Magic shows
• Board games
• Summer reading contests
• Birdhouse painting classes for parents to enjoy while their kids eat and play
• Video games
• Dodge ball
• Special socializing programs for teens
• Pajama Day
• Story time for toddlers and preschoolers
• Different educational activities for each day of the week including
• Learning about geography and foreign cultures through coloring
• Computer and coding classes
• Handwriting and cursive lessons
• Arts and crafts
• Lego building

These integrations in a summer meal program not only ensure that kids get enough to eat by removing stigma and increasing awareness and participation, they also build stronger communities, enriched family life and a love of learning amongst children.

Interested in finding a summer meal site? Here are the basics: 

• All kids 18 years old and younger are eligible for free meals.
• There is no paperwork required, enrollment, sign up or cost needed to participate.
• Parents can find the site nearest them in two easy ways:

1. Send a text message. Text FOOD to 877-877.
2. Call 2-1-1 San Diego for details. Dial 2-1-1.
3. Click here to enter your zip code

Tackling The Unique Hunger Challenges of Rural Communities

People struggling with hunger in the rural communities of San Diego County often face severe barriers to accessing vital food assistance through CalFresh. When Lisa (name changed) found herself homeless and without enough food, she attempted to enroll in CalFresh to obtain the nutrition she needed. Lisa qualified for expedited services and,  if she lived in urban San Diego County, she may have been able to apply for CalFresh and start purchasing food through the program that same day. But in her rural area, Lisa had to wait without CalFresh support for a full week. 

Without a car or consistent phone reception, Lisa faced a number of serious challenges. Fortunately, one of our East County CalFresh partners, Mountain Health and Community Services, stepped in to help Lisa with the CalFresh enrollment process. But even using all the tools available at Mountain Health and Community Services, Lisa wasn’t able to obtain CalFresh for more than a week.

In order to help people like Lisa access the food they need, the Hunger Coalition has partnered with Mountain Health and Community Services and San Diego County’s Health and Human Service Agency to make accessing CalFresh easier and more efficient for people who live in rural areas of San Diego County.

Unique Challenges in Rural Communities

• Transportation: Rural areas have fewer bus lines, less stops and longer wait times, making it difficult to apply for CalFresh in person. For those who have cars, the nearest County office can be up to an hour away. In times of need, this gas money and time away from work and childcare is difficult to find.
• Communication: Cell phone, landline and mail service is limited in rural areas.
• Food Access: Many rural areas are food deserts with a limited number of grocery stores. Many people in rural areas have to rely upon convenience stores, where healthy food may not be available and prices are much higher.
• CalFresh and Tribal Reservations: Tribal areas have specific CalFresh regulations that make the application process more confusing and time consuming.
• Limited Resources: Social services like meal sites, food pantries and homeless shelters are much less common and more difficult to access in rural areas – if they exist at all. 

Recent Success In Bringing CalFresh Access To Rural Areas… 

Our CalFresh Task Force continues to work together and with different County government entities to solve these problems. Here are a few recent victories: 

1. Most people in rural areas use a P.O. Box for their mail, since they don’t have postal service to their homes. Previously, CalFresh applicants with a P.O. Box were required to go through extra steps to provide additional documents and data that required more time and complications. Our CalFresh Task Force worked with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency to successfully remove these extra hurdles for people in rural communities.
2. We worked with Mountain Health and Community Services to train County staff at the El Cajon Family Resource Center on the unique challenges of clients in rural areas and the best ways to improve service.
3. San Diego Hunger Coalition met with managers at the El Cajon County office, as well as County leadership to develop new, innovative strategies for bringing rural communities better access to CalFresh. These conversations have led to, among other exciting potential improvements, the development of new ways to administer the CalFresh interview required in the application process for rural clients.

…And More to Come

We’re look forward to announcing more victories in the near future. Want to be a part of the change? You can get involved: subscribe to our newsletter, follow along on social media, make a donation.

Disrupting The Cycle of Poverty and Hunger At Community College

Community college students are rapidly becoming one of the most food insecure populations in America. A recent survey of 4,000 community college students revealed that half of students were food insecure and 40 percent had struggled to find enough food to eat in the last thirty days.

Higher education has never been more important for breaking the cycle of poverty, but poverty is becoming an increasingly prohibitive barrier to a college degree. 65 percent of jobs now require post-secondary education, but community college costs have increased 28 percent since 2000. Only 26 percent of community college students seeking associates degrees earn them within three years, and the majority of those who don’t complete their degree cite financial reasons for leaving early.

Assistance to purchase healthy food is available through SNAP, called CalFresh in California. However, only 27 percent of community college students who are eligible for the program are enrolled. CalFresh is a monthly supplement to a household’s food budget that can offer community college students independence and food security, making the path to a degree more accessible. In turn, their family may also take another step toward breaking the cycle of poverty.

Our CalFresh Task Force recognized this important opportunity and chose to utilize our quarterly countywide meeting to begin the process of building CalFresh assistance into San Diego County’s community college system.

On May 26, 2016, nearly 50 CalFresh outreach organizations, community colleges and local state universities came together to build partnerships that connect more eligible students to CalFresh. Notably, San Diego Food Bank and Miramar Community College are now working together to develop a Fall CalFresh Application Clinic for Miramar students. This partnership will leverage the knowledge of the lifestyles and needs of Miramar students with the resources of campus and community-based organizations to help eligible students access CalFresh and a life-changing degree.

Collaborations such as this are an important step towards transforming San Diego County’s higher education infrastructure, making food security and a college diploma more accessible to all.

Speaking Up for Hunger Relief in Sacramento

An important part of ending hunger here in San Diego County is advocating for better hunger policies statewide. San Diego Hunger Coalition and members of the Hunger Advocacy Network travelled to Sacramento in May to talk with state legislators about important pieces of state legislation to help reduce hunger in San Diego County. Read on to learn about the policies we’re fighting for (or have already won!) and how they could help to ensure that no one in San Diego County goes to bed hungry.

AB 2054 - Nutrition assistance: Summer Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) for Children

What Does It Do?

AB 2054, co-authored by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego), will prepare California to implement Summer EBT for Children (SEBTC). When it is approved at the federal level, this program will provide low-income families with a grocery supplement during the summer months for children enrolled in the Free & Reduced Price Meal Program. A small amount of funds are issued to EBT cards each month to supplement a household’s food budget. EBT cards function like debit cards, but can only be used to buy limited types of food and grocery items.

Why is it important?

Many low-income children who rely on school breakfasts, lunches, and after-school snacks during the school year go hungry during the summer months, when school is out of session. Hunger is especially detrimental for children, and bouts of hunger during summer vacation can impair development and hinder learning and academic performance during the school year. 

The San Diego Hunger Coalition’s 2014 report, Help Them Eat at Home, found that Summer EBT cards for children are one of the most effective and cost-efficient solutions for ending summer hunger. The study also informed a federal bill, the Stop Child Summer Hunger ACT.

Status

We’re excited to report that the bill passed unanimously (80-0) in the State Assembly, and now travels to the Senate. This bill has a lot of momentum but passing is never a guarantee. Your voice makes a difference. Here’s how you can help ensure the bill passes and children across the state don’t go hungry on summer vacation. 

AB 1747 – Food Assistance for Higher Education Students

What Does It Do?

AB 1747, authored by Assemblymember Shirley Weber (D-San Diego), will address growing incidences of hunger among low-income college students in California by giving the state several new tools to and improve coordination between college campus anti-hunger efforts and those in their communities. 

Why is it important?

Opportunities for low-income youth to escape poverty and climb into the middle class have narrowed over the past two decades. A college degree is an important tool in climbing the economic ladder; however, there have been increasing reports of college students who are limited in their opportunities to thrive in college by hardships like homelessness and hunger. This bill will support low-income college students by reducing hardships and barriers to graduation.  

Status

We’re excited to report that the bill passed the State Assembly and is now before the Senate. 

AB 1577 - CalFood Program: CalFood Account

What does it do?

Also known as the Farm to Food Bank Tax Credit, AB 1577 would offer most California farmers a 15 percent tax credit for the wholesale value of foods donated to food banks. AB 1577 is an improvement and extension of the existing tax credit program.

Why is it important?

This bill increases access to healthy foods for low-income Californians. To obtain donated food, food banks must compete with other ways that growers dispose of excess crops – including food going to waste – and a tax credit helps tip the balance for growers to contribute to food banks. Most of the produce distributed by San Diego Food Bank, Feeding America San Diego, and their partner pantries countywide comes from this tax credit program.

Status

We’re excited to report that the provisions in this bill were included in the California budget that was signed by Governor Jerry Brown.  

Increased Budget for Breakfast After The Bell

What does it do?

This would offer more high-need schools the ability to use innovative Breakfast After The Bell programs to increase children’s access to breakfast by providing it in the classroom.

Why is it important?

One in five kids in San Diego County arrive to school without breakfast. Numerous studies have shown that eating breakfast can bolster academic achievement, reduce absenteeism and tardiness, and improve classroom behavior. Many students have limited access to breakfast programs that open before school starts. Breakfast After The Bell programs bring breakfast into the classroom, ensuring all children have the nutrition they need to succeed.

Status

We’re excited to report that the California budget for 2016-2017 included $2 million dollars in grant funds for public schools that want to startup or expand after-the-bell breakfast programs.

Increased Budget for Nutrition Incentive Matching Grants

What does it do?

The California Market Match program was launched in 2009 to encourage low-income families receiving nutrition benefits to purchase fresh, locally-grown fruits and vegetables at farmers’ markets. This program doubles the purchasing power of nutrition benefits, such as CalFresh and WIC when used to buy California grown fruits, nuts and vegetables at farmers’ markets.

Why is it important?

In 2014, $450,000 in incentives drove $2M in spending on fresh fruits and vegetables at participating markets. That is a Social Return on Investment (SROI) of 440%, which is unprecedented in healthy eating interventions.

Status

We’re excited to report that the California budget for 2016-2016 includes an investment of $5 million dollars in this important program.  This will allow the state to leverage $5 million in Federal matching funds resulting in at least $10 million for the expansion of local nutrition incentive programs

Does Your Call Matter? Four Ways to Make Your Voice Heard

Ever wonder whether your call, email or letter to an elected official will really make a difference? Research shows that citizens have more power than they realize. According to The Alliance to End Hunger, constituents who make the effort to personally communicate with their senators and representatives can be even more influential than lobbyists and news editors. How can we make our voices heard to advocate for better anti-hunger policies and programs?

Here are four of our favorite tips from “The Advocacy Playbook,” developed by The Alliance to End Hunger. Click here to read the full playbook.

• Yes, pick up the phone. In a recent study, 86 percent of congressional staff members said phone calls from constituents can influence a legislator who is undecided on an issue.
• Personalize your letter... In a recent study, 90 percent of congressional staff members said individualized letters from constituents can influence on a legislator who is undecided on an issue. A letter with a personal story, as opposed to a form letter, was seen as more influential. Elected officials usually keep track of the number of letters from their constituents on various topics and whether people favor or oppose an issue.
•  …and your email. Individualized e-mails are just as influential as letters. In addition, e-mails arrive immediately and do not require security screenings as letters do.
• Visit in person if possible. According to a recent study, 97 percent of congressional staff members said in-person visits from constituents had the best chance of influencing a legislator who is undecided on an issue.

Spread the Word: How to Access Summer Meals in San Diego

Hunger among children does not take a break when school lets out for the summer. In fact, it becomes more of a problem when kids can’t eat breakfast and lunch at school.  Fortunately, the US Department of Agriculture’s Summer Food Service Program provides nutritious meals to children in low-income areas to help them continue growing and learning. In 2015, more than 220 San Diego locations offered free meals to kids 18 years old and younger. There is no paperwork, enrollment or cost to participate in the Summer Food Service Program. Parents can find the nearest site in three ways:

1. Send a text message. Text FOOD to 877-877.
2. Call 2-1-1 San Diego for details. Dial 2-1-1.
3. Map it online. Click here to enter your zip code.

You can help ensure that parents know how to access meals for their children as summer approaches:

• Copy the above information to your agency’s newsletter, social media, or website.
• Send the above information in an email to your agency’s partners and families.

If you have another idea about how to spread the word, please contact Robin McNulty, San Diego Hunger Coalition’s School Meals Program Director. 

Good Talk: Exchanging Stories for Success

Collective action is the best way to help people throughout California access the food they need – and it all starts with a conversation. By sharing stories across county lines, we are better able to demonstrate the struggles that people face, drive changes at the county and state level, and learn about innovative programs from partners outside our normal circle of contacts.

During March 2016, San Diego Hunger Coalition facilitated discussions related to best practice collaborations with county offices for the San Francisco Marin County Food Bank and two local partners, San Diego Food Bank and Feeding America San Diego. In the same month, we also hosted a CalFresh 101 training for Imperial Valley Food Bank to share client advocacy strategies that can improve clients’ experiences with their county office. 

Helping clients to access food assistance through the local county office is a task shared by many anti-hunger organizations in California. The Hunger Coalition brought these statewide partners together to provide guidance on working with the county office to resolve issues that may arise when clients apply for assistance, tracking client case issues to monitor trends and identify systemic barriers, and various innovations and progress that the Hunger Coalition has made with our partners to make the process of applying for CalFresh easier. 

How can your organization improve clients’ experiences applying for food assistance? Here are three of the best practices we discussed:

1.     Learn the regulations. In San Diego, we provide CalFresh 101 trainings. You can also go online to brush up on state regulations or learn about other resources.

2.     Get to know your County. Every County has a different structure, so take the time to learn how your county office, advisory board, or state representative can help resolve issues.

3.     Document issues as they arise. Ten stories about the same challenge are more powerful than one anecdote. We find that when we bring up specific client stories, the county is better able to make improvements.

Organizations interested in learning how we’re tracking case issues may contact Marcia Garcia, San Diego Hunger Coalition’s CalFresh outreach coordinator.

Bob Kelly Joins Hunger Coalition Board of Directors

We are proud to welcome Bob Kelly, President Emeritus of The San Diego Foundation, as our newest board member. Bob has dedicated decades of his San Diego career to philanthropy and originated several programs that continue to improve our community. We are thrilled that Bob will lend his expert insights to the Hunger Coalition’s team working to ensure that no one in San Diego goes to bed hungry.

For 20 years, Bob Kelly served as President and CEO of The San Diego Foundation, overseeing the institution’s activities, programs, asset management and growth. A longtime San Diegan, Bob built his career in philanthropy over several decades. Prior to joining The Foundation, Bob served as Executive Director of American Cancer Society in San Diego and Vice President of Southern California. His career includes significant time with Sharp HealthCare, where he served as Assistant to the President, Senior Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer for Sharp HealthCare Foundations. Bob also worked as Senior Vice President for CCP and Associates – a comprehensive cancer center consulting firm. Most recently, Bob served as Executive-in-Residence at National University’s Sanford Institute of Philanthropy. 

Bob serves on the boards of Leglar Benbough Foundation, Borrego Community Health Society Foundation, Voice of San Diego, Hubbs Sea World and San Diego Hunger Coalition. He is Board Chair of Sharp HealthCare and President of Borrego Valley Endowment. Bob’s past community service activities include time spent as a board member of Beauchamp Charities, San Diego Chamber Foundation, San Diego Chamber of Commerce, San Diego Symphony Foundation, the University Club, The Children’s Initiative, League of California Community Foundations, and International Community Foundation. He is past President of the UCSD Alumni Association, past Board Chair of Youth for Progress, and past Board Chair of San Diego Grantmakers. Bob also spent a number of years as a board member for the Elsinore Cattle Co., a family-owned for-profit cattle ranch and natural gas company that operated in Texas, Colorado and California.

Throughout his career, Bob has originated many programs and projects which have made a significant difference in our community including Camp Reach for the Sky, Endow San Diego, the Charitable Foundation Affiliates throughout the county, San Diego Women’s Foundation, San Diego Charitable Real Estate Fund, San Diego Disaster Fund and, most recently, the San Diego Foundation’s Malin Burnham Center for Civic Engagement.

Now You Can Enroll in CalFresh Without Setting Foot in a County Office

For many low-income San Diego residents, there is a simple but significant barrier that stops them from getting access to the food they need: they would have to visit a County office. While San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency has been working hard to improve customer service and the environment in their Family Resource Centers, unpleasant experiences from the past create expectations for the future that keep people from seeking the help they need.  Also, for some, applying at a County office means driving upwards of 60 miles round trip for multiple visits – an impossible hardship for many families in need of assistance.

Here are three ways to apply for CalFresh benefits that don’t involve a county office visit:

1.     Online at www.GetCalFresh.org or www.MyBenefitsCalWin.org.

2.     Over the phone through 2-1-1 San Diego (dial 211) or the County’s Access Call Center (1-866-262-9881).

3.     In person by visiting a community based organization. Community organizations and 2-1-1 San Diego can also connect people to additional food resources. For a list of San Diego County community-based organizations providing CalFresh application assistance, visit San Diego Hunger Coalition's CalFresh Assistance page. 

Online Application Gets a Makeover

A particularly helpful feature of the online application now allows people with smart phones to take pictures of necessary verification documents like pay stubs or ID cards and upload them online. For those who do not currently have access to a smart phone, various free or low cost phone programs can make this feature available.

Success in Action: Encinitas Community Resource Center

The Community Resource Center (CRC) is one of the outstanding community-based organizations using innovative options to help people apply for CalFresh, a monthly supplement to a household’s grocery budget. After walking a client through the application process, the Community Resource Center would traditionally set up a time for the client to come back to the office and complete their interview. But now, CRC gives clients the option to virtually complete their interview online using web-based technology. Both the Community Resource Center and the partnering County Family Resource Center in Oceanside have computers set up with cameras, speakers and microphones.  Clients can choose to complete their interview privately or have CRC staff present to assist them in better understanding questions. CRC staff can also then help the client gather and submit any additional information that the County requested during the interview.  This model works incredibly well because clients can:

1.     Choose an interview time that works well for them.

2.     Conduct their interview at a convenient location where they feel comfortable and safe.

3.     Seek support from Community Resource Center staff during the interview.

4.     Complete the application process immediately after the interview by working with CRC staff to ensure any additional information or verifications are submitted on the spot.

As a result, nearly 100 percent of the applicants that use web-based interviews are successful.  The Community Resource Center also works to share lessons learned and best practices with fellow community-based organizations. Thanks to the staff’s dedicated collaboration, the Community Resource Center was voted the 2015 CalFresh Outreach Partner of the Year by peers from San Diego Hunger Coalition’s CalFresh Task Force.

Celebrating Progress in the Fight to End Hunger

On May 10, 2016, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors presented San Diego Hunger Coalition with a Live Well San Diego Proclamation in recognition of our work to end hunger countywide. We are honored to continue collaborating with the network of Live Well San Diego champions and partners to achieve the greatest collective impact possible for creating and sustaining safe, healthy and thriving communities. 

Live Well San Diego is the County of San Diego's vision for a region that is Building Better Health, Living Safely and Thriving. It involves partners in all sectors - from government, to business, to schools, to faith-based and community organizations - through a shared purpose. Working together allows for planning and implementation of innovative and creative projects to bring the Live Well San Diego vision of region that is Building Better Health, Living Safely and Thriving to life.

From the CalFresh Task Force to our research initiatives, the coordinated action we lead for hunger relief is only possible with the help of our committed partners. While there is still much work to be done, we have made great strides in the fight against hunger by working together. We are grateful to all those working alongside us to ensure that everyone in San Diego County has access to enough food for an active, healthy life.

Advocating For Statewide Expansion of Breakfast After The Bell Programs

Last week, our School Meals Program Director Robin McNulty traveled to the California State Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education to advocate for Breakfast After The Bell Programs across the state. 

Robin's testimony supported a larger effort to advocate for increased access to school breakfast programs in California. You can learn more about the benefits of breakfast in the classroom programs here.  

Why Are PPIC Measurements Of CalFresh Enrollment So Low?

A Letter From San Diego Hunger Coalition Executive Director Anahid Brakke

Dear Partners,

You may have heard about the Public Policy Institute of California’s (PPIC) recent release of CalFresh participation data by county.  It was mentioned in the Voice of San Diego’s Morning Report in a bullet under “Quick News Hits.” CalFresh is one of our most powerful anti-hunger tools and the percentage of eligible households enrolled in CalFresh is an important metric in our effort to end hunger in San Diego County. 

PPIC reports that 30.7 percent of those eligible for CalFresh are enrolled.  Voice of San Diego compares this number to the 2007 rate of 35 percent, which they take from a different source (Food Research & Action Center) using different methodology. 

The San Diego Hunger Coalition believes the PPIC estimate to be low.  Our Director of CalFresh Outreach, Amanda Schultz, has provided the following explanation.  She spoke with the Union Tribune yesterday, who reached out to us for comment. Hopefully that conversation will yield broader sharing of this information. We also invite you to share this blog post through your own outlets to help inform other hunger advocates and the public.

Why Are PPIC Measurements Of CalFresh Enrollment So Low?

PPIC's reported CalFresh enrollment rates are so low because of the denominator used to measure eligibility.  Instead of the 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Line denominator currently used by USDA, California Department of Social Services, and CA Food Policy Advocates -- the other organizations that release CalFresh participation indices -- PPIC uses a 200 percent Federal Poverty Line denominator. This artificially inflates the number of California and San Diego County residents eligible for benefits.

Due to the intricacies of the CalFresh eligibility process, which utilizes two layers of income testing, not everyone who passes the first income test of 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line is eligible for CalFresh. 

To keep it simple, there are two income tests for CalFresh, and most households have to meet both income tests to be eligible for benefits. The first income test is easy, which is whether gross income (all income before taxes) falls below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.  Measuring eligibility becomes trickier in the second income test.

Federal guidelines require that a very specific set of formulas be used to determine what portion of a household’s income could potentially be used for food.  These formulas deduct a percentage of federally-approved basic living expenses from a household’s gross income.  The remaining income, after deducting amounts for basic living expense, has to be below 100 percent of the Federal Poverty Level in order to qualify for benefits. 

Unfortunately, CalFresh eligibility calculations are based on antiquated federal formulas that do not deduct the full cost of basic living expenses in the modern era, especially in regards to housing costs in San Diego, and thus are not an accurate reflection of need. While the first (advertised) gross income test is 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Line in California, we find that households close to this measurement may or may not end up qualifying for benefits.  San Diego Hunger Coalition believes that a more accurate CalFresh utilization rate would start with the 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Line population.  However, 125 percent is what is available through the Census and most often used.  

Our Work To End Hunger In San Diego County

San Diego Hunger Coalition is working with the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) and advocates statewide to develop a more accurate indicator for measuring CalFresh utilization.  In the meantime, community-based organizations and HHSA come together every month through the Hunger Coalition’s CalFresh Task Force to work together to successfully address barriers to CalFresh enrollment, which has increased by 221 percent since 2007.

• In March of 2007, 91,939 San Diego County residents were enrolled in CalFresh.
• In March of 2016, 295,124 San Diego County residents are  currently enrolled in CalFresh. 

Are You Eligible For CalFresh?

The Hunger Coalition strongly recommends that individuals or families who are close to 200 percent of the federal poverty line still apply for CalFresh.  Application is free and accessible through the following routes: 

1. Online at www.GetCalFresh.org or www.MyBenefitsCalWin.org.
2. Over the phone through 2-1-1 San Diego (dial 211) or the County’s Access Call Center (1-866-262-9881).
3. In-person by visiting a community based organization or County Family Resource Center.  Community organizations and 2-1-1 San Diego can also connect people to additional food resources.  A list of San Diego County community-based organizations in providing CalFresh application assistance can be found on San Diego Hunger Coalition's CalFresh Assistance page. 

We are happy to provide additional information as requested. 

Sincerely,

Anahid Brakke
Executive Director
San Diego Hunger Coalition

High School Students Raise Funds to End Hunger

High School students present their san diego hunger coalition benefit project

In November of 2015, five students from Clairemont High School’s Academy of Business woke up at 3:00 a.m. to prepare food for a fundraiser for the San Diego Hunger Coalition. The students were participating in program designed by Main Street Philanthropy to teach our next generation of leaders the value of giving back. 

The course gives students an overview of the nonprofit industry.  Students learn about local organizations and interview nonprofit staff and philanthropists. As the course progresses, students team up based on the causes they are passionate about and select a nonprofit to support with an event. We’re honored that five students chose San Diego Hunger Coalition.

Team Hunger Coalition’s fundraiser was a success, raising $112.65 and teaching friends and classmates about food insecurity. Most importantly, the five students had the experience of making a real difference for a cause they care about. We hope they’re hooked for life. 

Top 5 Tips from the Summer Meal Summit

In San Diego County, 59 percent of children who benefit from free or reduced-price school lunches don’t have access to this important nutrition during the summer months. That’s more than 68,000 kids.

Our Director of School Meal Programs, Robin McNulty, attended the annual Summer Meal Summit hosted by the California Summer Meal Coalition to learn about the latest strategies for increasing summer meal participation. From Robin’s perspective as an experienced summer meal provider, here are the top five tips for San Diego organizations looking to help children access healthy meals this summer.

1. An effective summer meal program doesn’t start in the summer; it’s a year-round effort. For a superb summer meal program, start by getting administrative processes in place early to engage existing and new partners in developing your vision and strategy.
2. Develop clear messaging to build awareness and reduce confusion among your target audiences. Working with a local network like San Diego Hunger Coalition’s Summer Meals Task Force can help with this.
3. Tailor your outreach about the summer meal program to the neighborhood where meal sites are located with culturally appropriate promotion in convenient locations.
4. Recruit partner agencies to offer regular activities and programs at summer meal sites to encourage community members to enroll in the summer meal program. If partner agencies cannot commit to providing consistent activities, consider an “adopt-a-week” strategy.
5. Hold a kick-off event to invite families to learn about summer meal programs in a fun, kid-friendly setting.

Fighting Hunger with Customer Service

Task Force visits County’s Access Customer Service Call Center

Many San Diego families who have fallen on tough times rely on CalFresh (the modern iteration of food stamps) to purchase food from local grocers and farmers markets. But all too often, confusing guidelines and complex processes prevent people from receiving this vital food assistance. The County of San Diego’s Access Customer Service Call Center helps community based organizations and their clients navigate the process and access the benefits they’re eligible for. When a resident or community agency needs to speak with the County about a CalFresh case, they call the Access line. In some cases, however, clients need the additional support of a community partner to help them better understand the application or what’s happening with their case.

In 2013, on behalf of the CalFresh Task Force, the San Diego Hunger Coalition advocated for the launch of a separate phone line specifically for community-based organizations that help individuals apply for or maintain their CalFresh, Medi-Cal and CalWORKS benefits. The County responded and launched the “Access CBO Line” for Community Based Organizations.

Today, over 20 Access Customer Service Call Center staff answer an average of 270 calls each day on the Access CBO Line, continually decreasing the wait times for callers. Community advocates rely heavily on the Access CBO Line, because it enables them to skip the wait and quickly connect with a County staff member and ask about multiple client cases at the same time. This is the only county information phone line in the state specifically developed for community partners.

The Hunger Coalition continues to keep communication channels open between the Access Call Center team and community based organizations through the CalFresh Task Force. The Call Center’s staff presented at the countywide CalFresh Task Force meeting in August 2015, and invited Task Force members to visit and tour the Call Center in October. We look forward to continuing this open dialogue and feedback loop with the County and Call Center staff to support their commitment to providing the highest levels of customer service to individuals struggling with hunger and the community based organizations that support them.

You may learn more about the Access Customer Service Center on its website. In addition to the CBO line, the Access Call Center offers other specialized services such as Access2Health. The Access2Health team, created with implementation of the Affordable Care Act, handles calls and process applications from Covered California customers who are potentially eligible for expanded Medi-Cal. Access also responds to email requests received via the County’s public assistance email account (pubassist.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov) and call back requests generated through the MyBenefitsCalWIN website.  

Collaborating to Address Senior Hunger

CalFresh Task Force February Meeting

From lack of transportation to isolation, seniors across the U.S. face distinct challenges to make ends meet. In San Diego, the high cost of living adds an extra burden for our local elders -- and aging in place is especially difficult. Data from the Insight Center for Community Economic Development shows that a San Diego County senior needs to bring in $2,034 each month simply to cover minimum basic expenses such as housing, food and healthcare. A shocking 42 percent of older adults (65+) in San Diego County do not have enough income to meet their most basic needs.  

CalFresh, a monthly supplement to a household’s food budget, can help seniors access the food they need. Based on income, seniors can receive $16 to $196 per month for food. Unfortunately, while many San Diego County seniors are eligible for CalFresh, few enroll in this vital program.

To address this disconnect, San Diego Hunger Coalition’s CalFresh Task Force dedicated its first quarterly meeting of the year to building bridges between organizations that serve seniors and agencies that provide CalFresh application assistance. On February 25, 2016, representatives from Aging and Independence Services, Meals on Wheels, Dreams for Change, and the County Health & Human Services Agency joined the Task Force meeting to discuss opportunities for partnership to help more seniors get CalFresh.

The conversation will continue at the March regional CalFresh Task Force meetings.  

Does your organization help seniors? We’d love you to join us for a CalFresh Task Force meeting to learn and share your ideas. Our March 2016 regional meetings will take place at the following locations:

• South San Diego: Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 2:30 p.m.
  Chula Vista Community Collaborative at New Directions FRC (Rice Elementary), 915 Fourth Ave, Chula Vista, 91911
• East San Diego: Wednesday, March 30, 2016 at 2:00 p.m.
  Mountain Health and Community Services, 1620 Alpine Blvd Suite 211, Alpine, 91901
• Central San Diego: Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. 
  BAME Community Development Corporation, 3085 K Street, San Diego, 92102
• North San Diego: Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 2:00 p.m. 
  Community Resource Center, 650 Second Street, Encinitas, 92024