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.

Anahid Brakke Elected Co-Chair of Hunger Advocacy Network

Hunger Advocacy Network

The Hunger Advocacy Network is a collaborative of San Diego organizations that work together to reduce food insecurity in San Diego County by shaping state policy. Legislative advocacy at the state level is critical to breaking down barriers to food assistance in San Diego County and across California. 

As newly elected co-chair of the Hunger Advocacy Network, executive director Anahid Brakke will serve alongside current co-chair Daniela Solano from Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank. “This closer partnership between the Hunger Coalition and Hunger Advocacy Network will better leverage our respective programs’ greatest strengths,” states Anahid. “Our goal is to identify more opportunities for the Hunger Coalition’s research and on-the-ground expertise to support Hunger Advocacy Network’s legislative efforts.”   

Policy Wrap-Up From The Year

Thank you for your generous support on key legislation covering hunger, access and health in 2015. You’ve made a real difference this year. Here is an update on three of the issues we supported:

  • AB 1321 (Ting): California Nutrition Incentives – This bill, signed into law by Governor Brown, created the Nutrition Incentive Matching Grant Program which doubles the purchasing power of CalFresh when used to buy California-grown fruits, nuts and vegetables. Although the law passed, it still requires the matching funds for implementation. The work to secure this funding from the State of California is expected to pick up again in 2016.
     
  • Social Security Income Policy Reform - People on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) often do not have enough money for food (single Californians only receive $889/month for all living expenses, including food), but SSI makes them ineligible for other benefits that could provide the food they need. While this law, which would raise SSI payments above the poverty level, did not pass, it made incredible progress thanks to the work of Californians for SSI (CA4SSI). Advocates are already building on the progress made in preparation for the 2016 legislative cycle. You can help by signing this petition
     
  • Child Nutrition Reauthorization - The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 is still due for reauthorization by Congress. If you think all children deserve the food they need to reach their potential, call your representative in Congress and ask them to sponsor a strong child nutrition bill.

Hunger Coalition lobbies with the Hunger Advocacy Network at the State Capitol

Hunger Coalition lobbies with the Hunger Advocacy Network at the State Capitol

The Hunger Coalition joined Hunger Advocacy Network (HAN) partners for trip to Sacramento on May 21, 2015, to lobby on important anti-hunger legislation.  In addition to the Hunger Coalition, the HAN partners on the trip included Feeding America San Diego, Heaven’s Windows, Housing on Merit, and Jacobs Cushman San Diego Food Bank.  The trip was made possible by a grant to HAN from the Leichtag Foundation. 

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Increase to Supplemental Security Income for elderly and disabled passes in the Legislature but dies in final budget negotiations with the Governor

Increase to Supplemental Security Income for elderly and disabled passes in the Legislature but dies in final budget negotiations with the Governor

After months of advocacy by organizations around the state -- joined under the umbrella Californians for SSI (CA4SSI) -- the California Legislature passed a state budget that increased the SSI benefit level.  Unfortunately, the increases were cut from the budget in final negotiations with the Governor. 

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Stop Child Summer Hunger Act Would Help 90,000 Children in San Diego County Eat During Summer Months

Stop Child Summer Hunger Act Would Help 90,000 Children in San Diego County Eat During Summer Months

Representative Susan Davis (D-CA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash) recently introduced a federal bill called the Stop Child Summer Hunger Act that would expand the successfully piloted Summer EBT for Children program, providing families an extra stipend on an electronic benefit transfer (EBT) card to help cover the cost of feeding their children at home over critical summer months.

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Governor Jerry Brown Releases ‘May Revise’ Budget with New State Earned Income Tax Credit

Governor Jerry Brown Releases ‘May Revise’ Budget with New State Earned Income Tax Credit

While the Governor’s ‘May Revise’ budget, released last week, included the first ever Earned Income Tax Credit for California to help the state’s poorest residents, it failed to increase Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for seniors and the disabled.

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Need to Raise SSI Levels Gets Recognition from Assemblymembers Brown and Thurmond

 Need to Raise SSI Levels Gets Recognition from Assemblymembers Brown and Thurmond

Cheryl Brown (D-San Bernardino) and Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) introduced Bill 474 to increase SSI payments for people living independently from 91% of the federal poverty level to 112%. The bill was inspired by the grassroots advocacy of the CA4SSI organizations who brought SSI recipients to share their stories of hardship during Assembly hearings on the matter.

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CalFresh Families Would Receive Extra Money for Fruits and Veg Through Statewide Nutrition Incentives Program

CalFresh Families Would Receive Extra Money for Fruits and Veg Through Statewide Nutrition Incentives Program

A program to boost the purchase of California-grown fruits, vegetables, and nuts is gaining a foothold in the state legislature. The program would incentivize CalFresh beneficiaries by increasing their buying power for purchasing these state-grown items.

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Support Breakfast in the Classroom for Kids in California: AB 1240

Support Breakfast in the Classroom for Kids in California: AB 1240

Take DIRECT ACTION today by sending in your letter of support! AB 1240 would increase access to school breakfast by requiring schools to implement practical changes that integrate breakfast into the school day and make the most efficient use of existing state and federal funds.

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