Our Latest Updates on the Fight Against Hunger in San Diego County
Senior hunger is a very real challenge in San Diego County where 1 in 10 older adults experience food insecurity. Food insecurity means that a person doesn’t always have enough to eat to lead an active and healthy life. But, what does that mean for older adults who have additional challenges to face?
Read MoreSan Diego Hunger Coalition has been fighting hunger for 45 years. We realized very early the only way we can end hunger is if we all work together. That’s why we’re grateful to live in California, a state that has our backs. In the last year, California has passed game-changing legislation that is empowering our communities to fight hunger using the best, most successful hunger relief program in the world: SNAP/CalFresh.
Read MoreYou’ve seen the stickers in fast food restaurant windows proclaiming that, “EBT is accepted here!” Perhaps you’ve even been in line when you see someone whip out their Golden State Advantage EBT card to pay for their meal. Chances are, if you’re like many people, you find yourself wondering why people should be able to use CalFresh/SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, to buy fast food?
Read MoreIn February 2019, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) published a proposed rule that would tighten work requirements for Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs). The USDA’s own impact assessment determined that the rule change would result in over 700,000 Americans losing SNAP/CalFresh federal food assistance benefits. Local estimates show that 25,000 San Diegans are at risk of losing benefits.
Read MoreThe Trump Administration’s new ABAWD work requirement rules will only worsen an already bad situation throughout the United States with no plans in place to account for the sudden increase in hunger that will result from this misguided attempt to increase self-sufficiency.
Read MoreGeorge is technically considered an ABAWD. States have been able to help people like George by using special exemptions. The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) is taking those exemptions away in April 2020 through a new rule that will tighten work requirements for ABAWDs.
Read MoreSan Diego Hunger Coalition welcomes three community leaders to its Board of Directors who will complement and enhance the phenomenal talent that governs our organization. Joining the San Diego Hunger Coalition Board are Blanca Meléndrez, Executive Director of the U.C. San Diego School of Medicine Center for Community Health; Gary Petill, Director of Food and Nutrition Services for San Diego Unified School District; and Julie Rice, Owner and Principal of local nonprofit consultancy, Managed Giving.
The addition of these incredible professionals is perfectly timed as San Diego Hunger Coalition’s initiatives and social innovations gather steam in 2020. Learn more about the new board members below.
Blanca Meléndrez, MA is a nonprofit leader with 20 years of local, regional, and national experience in the non-profit and government sectors. She currently serves as Executive Director of the U.C. San Diego School of Medicine Center for Community Health (CCH) where she fosters local, state, and nationwide-wide efforts to improve health outcomes for California’s low-income residents and underserved neighborhoods by applying a racial equity lens. Her eye towards equity, diversity, and social justice will support the Hunger Coalition’s dedication to an effective and equitable food assistance system. Ms. Meléndrez is a member of the Hunger Free San Diego Advisory Board.
Gary Petill is the Director of Food and Nutrition Services for San Diego Unified School District (SDUSD). He has been in his current position with SDUSD since 2002 and has 23 years of prior experience in hospitality management. Gary currently oversees 300 schools and maintains a $62 million budget for the school district. Under his leadership, SDUSD has received awards for excellence in youth meal programs from the California School Board Association, the United States Department of Agriculture, and the California Endowment. He brings to the Hunger Coalition a wealth of knowledge about child nutrition and school meal programs. Mr. Petill is a member of the Hunger Free San Diego Advisory Board and an advisor to the Hunger Free Kids program.
Julie Rice, Owner and Principal of Managed Giving, is a talented communications and development professional with experience in both the public and private sectors. She served as an aid to U.S. Senator Al Gore, a press officer for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown, and on the 1992 Clinton-Gore and 2000 Gore-Lieberman presidential campaigns. She has developed community partnerships between nonprofits and major corporations such as Nike, Kellogg, and Wrigley. Julie specializes in strategic plan creation and implementation, materials evaluation and development, grant writing, and community partnerships and outreach. Ms. Rice comes to the Hunger Coalition with a successful track record of expanding and enhancing relationships in the nonprofit and hunger relief communities.
Join us at the 1st Annual State of Hunger Luncheon on November 15th for your chance to say hello to these incredible community leaders in addition to the other phenomenal talent on our Board of Directors!
San Diego’s hunger relief sector has a unique, collaborative spirit that makes it possible for San Diego Hunger Coalition and its many partners to create a new way to think about hunger relief and create innovative, long-term solutions.
Our work, victories, and expertise have been the subject of plentiful media attention in 2019:
Oside News - San Diego Hunger Coalition Receives National Child Nutrition Foundation for Excellence in Collaboration Award - April 30, 2019
KUSI News - San Diego Hunger Advocacy Network hosts Annual Legislative Breakfast - March 22, 2019
KUSI Good Morning San Diego - San Diego Hunger Advocacy Network hosts Annual Legislative Breakfast - March 22, 2019
ABC/10 News- More shutdown fallout: Some retailers now unable to accept food stamps - January 22, 2019
KUSI News - Shutdown impacts Americans who receive help from federal food stamps - January 18, 2019
ABC\10 News - Government report says millions of college students going hungry - January 9, 2019
NBC\7 News - Food Stamps Threatened Amid Partial Government Shutdown - January 7, 2019
ABC\10 News - San Diegans relying on food stamps await word of programs future under shutdown - January 7, 2019
NBC/7 News - Rx for Food Security - October 1, 2019
Fox/5 News - Report finds on-third of 5th-, 7th-, 9th-grade students overweight or obese - September 9, 2019
Times of San Diego - Initiative Aims to Improve Diet, Increase Activity As County Children Face Obesity Crisis - September 9, 2019
ABC/10 News - High obesity rates reported among San Diego kids - September 9, 2019
KUSI - Families encouraged to use free and reduced lunch programs despite charge - September 3, 2019
Pacific Standard - Only one in seven eligible kids get free lunch in the summer. What’s going wrong? - July 3, 2019
NBC/7 San Diego - Free Summer Meals Offered to Kids in Need - June 14, 2019
KUSI News - On-air interview with Paloma Perez Betrand, Hunger Free Kids Director - June 13, 2019
ABC/10 News - CalFresh Program Expands to SSI Recipients - May 13, 2019
ABC/10 News - CalFresh Challenge Encourages San Diegans to Eat on a Tight Budget - May 13, 2019
We are proud of our accomplishments in 2019. With your support we’ll continue to gain momentum in 2020.
Every year, San Diego Hunger Coalition prepares an in-depth analysis of data from UCLA’s California Health Interview Survey (CHIS), which goes beyond the stats that are publicly available. Our annual San Diego County Food Insecurity Data Release includes a white paper and now, for the first time, a two-page summary that provides a glimpse into what hunger looks like in San Diego County. The report reveals that food assistance continues to be a critical need for working families, senior citizens, and persons with disabilities in our region.
Here is just a little of what our research found:
Based on 2015, 2016, and 2017 data from the California Health Interview Survey administered by the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research.
From 2016 to 2017, San Diego County’s food insecurity rate improved very slightly, dropping from 15% to 14%. While any improvement is good, the needle hasn’t really moved when 1 in 7 San Diegans still experience food insecurity.
The reality for many San Diegans since the 2008 recession is that their wages have not kept pace with rising costs of living. Today, more than half (55%) of adults experiencing food insecurity are employed, but 32% of working San Diegans make less than $14.35/hour. This is not enough to make ends meet in San Diego, where a family of four needs approximately $83,000/year to meet their basic needs.
Unless wages catch up to the cost of living in San Diego County, people will continue to need food assistance. That’s why programs such as CalFresh, Free and Reduced-Price School Meals, WIC, and food distributions are so important.
1) Support San Diego Hunger Coalition’s hunger relief programs.
2) Learn: Download the latest food insecurity data and share this information.
3) Share: Become a Hunger Free Activist and get others involved in the fight to end hunger.
It’s true that CalFresh/SNAP benefits come from taxes paid by working individuals. But, did you know:
55% of food insecure individuals are employed, meaning they are paying into our safety net programs.
Red tape and an unnecessarily long application process make the program more expensive.
San Diego Hunger Coalition works with its partners to address barriers to accessing food assistance by streamlining programs like CalFresh. Our most recent victory was the passing of Assembly Bill 494 which eases the requirements for CalFresh applicants to verify their housing costs.
In San Diego, the cost of housing is one of the highest in the nation. The high cost of rent results in some low-income families entering non-traditional rental agreements. When they apply for CalFresh and are told they need to verify their cost of housing, many are scared to ask their landlords for a rent receipt or a signed letter. They worry that they may jeopardize their living arrangements if they draw attention to their need for public assistance. What results is a lengthy application process where people in need get either no CalFresh benefits, or a reduced amount.
When Governor Newsome signed AB 494 into law, he made it so that thousands of Californians would have enough to eat without putting their living arrangements in danger. Now Californians can verify their housing expenses by simply entering it on their signed application. County officials will only require more documentation if something seems amiss, ensuring that people will not be able to take advantage of the new system.
The new law went into effect on September 1st and promises to reduce hunger throughout San Diego County and all of California. Congratulations to all of the incredible Hunger Free Activists and the members of the San Diego County Hunger Advocacy Network who worked with our state representatives to make this bill a law.
Learn more about AB494 and our other state legislative priorities HERE.
You are what you eat . . . an apple a day keeps the doctor away . . . breakfast is the most important meal of the day . . .
Everyone has heard these adages at some point in their lives, and we generally don’t think much of them. But there is a lot of truth to these old sayings and healthcare providers are beginning to take them seriously.
Why? Because we’ve learned that when people don’t have enough to eat, can’t afford to buy healthy food, or don’t have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, it can affect their health for the rest of their lives. One of the best ways to ensure healthy living is to make sure everyone has enough to eat, from infancy through old age and every day in between.
We know that a good diet is linked to good health, which is why healthcare providers are beginning to make food insecurity screening and food assistance referrals a part of patient care visits. Recent research shows that not only is a doctor’s visit a good place to screen for food insecurity, but people are more likely to use food assistance if they see it as part of their healthcare regimen.
Unfortunately, very few medical school curriculums incorporate education around nutrition or food insecurity, leaving many doctors, nurses, and healthcare practitioners unsure of where to begin. What is needed is a curriculum to teach medical professionals what to look for, how to talk about it, and what the next steps are for their food insecure patients.
This is exactly what San Diego Hunger Coalition and Sharp HealthCare have developed: a 4-part Continuing Medical Education course, available online for free to medical professionals and the general public.
In the course, you can expect to learn:
1. What food insecurity looks like and how it is linked to health outcomes.
2. How to have a sensitive conversation about a person’s basic needs and how to find out if they are food insecure.
3. What to do to connect someone with food assistance and what resources are available.
4. How to know if your efforts are successful and how you can advocate for hunger relief.
Module 1
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
It’s not enough to simply make food assistance available, we must make it easy to access. Innovative solutions like this are bringing us closer to our vision of a San Diego County where everyone has enough to eat.
Have you ever stood in line at a grocery store and saw someone buying food with their EBT (food stamps) card who was either overweight or with kids in tow who were overweight? What was your kneejerk reaction? Maybe you thought, “There’s no way they should be on food stamps! They clearly have enough to eat.”
A little girl in pink and white pajamas looks at her nearly empty cereal bowl.
The San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative recently released their 2019 State of Childhood Obesity Report. Their findings show that, in San Diego County, 1 in 3 children (34.1%) is overweight/obese. Children from low-income families are twice as likely to be overweight or obese when compared to their higher-income peers. These findings are important when you consider that, in San Diego County, 1 in 3 households is struggling to make ends meet.
A study by the University of California, Berkeley revealed that 32% of employed San Diegans are considered low-wage earners with an income of less than $14.35/hour. This means that they earn well below the California Family Needs Calculator’s estimated income needed to meet a person’s basic needs. When people have trouble paying their rent and utilities, the food budget is often the first place cuts are made.
According to San Diego Hunger Coalition research, 1 in 5 children in San Diego County don’t always have enough to eat. Facing hunger during a child’s formative years can lead to a lifetime of weight and health problems. Many of these problems result from not getting enough healthy food as they grow and learning the wrong eating habits.
Before you lay the blame at the parents’ feet, there is more to understand about overweight and obesity linked to food insecurity. In many cases, the food assistance that is available to low-income families isn’t enough to see them safely through the month. These families, many employed full-time and hardworking, must sacrifice healthy food in favor of cheaper, highly processed options that will fill bellies and keep their kids fed. High fat, high calorie, and high sugar foods become a staple in many low-income households not by choice, but out of necessity.
For the families buying unhealthy food so that their kids don’t go hungry, food assistance programs are a lifeline. But, the only way to break the cycle of food insecurity and obesity is to make sure they know about and have access to programs like WIC, Free and Reduced-Price school meals, and CalFresh. We know that ending hunger takes a community, and it will take all of these programs working together to make sure kids have enough healthy food to eat to avoid the pitfalls of poor health, overweight, and obesity.
Interested in learning more about how to make all kids in San Diego County Hunger Free Kids? Go to www.sdhunger.org/hunger-free-kids.
Written by: Salma Soliman, Student Intern, University of California, San Diego (Graduated 2019)
Since the beginning of 2015, San Diego Hunger Coalition (SDHC) has been working towards addressing the unfortunate yet prevalent issue of college hunger. In an effort to meet students where they are, the Hunger Coalition has brought together campuses and hunger relief partners to provide food assistance and resources to low-income students.
With the on-going inflation of college tuition and cost of living, the number of students struggling with food insecurity has increased greatly; more than 40 percent of University of California and California State University students have reported food insecurity in recent years. Due to financial struggles, many students are forced to skip meals which results in an array of negative effects, including deciding whether to prioritize school or their health.
College hunger must be addressed and prioritized. If it persists, it has the power to widen the disparities in academic success and health. If students are struggling to meet basic needs it is likely they will struggle in different aspects of their life, including their academic work. Those who are food insecure, not getting the appropriate amount of nutrition needed, often feel less energized, have difficulty focusing, and tend to prolong their studies three times more than those students who did not experience food insecurity.
Up until a few years ago there was little discussion around college hunger. The old trope of the starving college student who lives on ramen normalized college hunger. Within the past few years a new discourse has emerged. The passage of critical state legislation (AB1930) created a window of opportunity for San Diego Hunger Coalition to mobilize the hunger relief community and campuses to connect students to food resources, beginning with CalFresh/SNAP. For the past four years, the CalFresh Task Force has prioritized, “Connecting College Students to CalFresh,” resulting in the development of an online toolkit, San Diego County specialists stationed at college campuses, and dozens of CalFresh-in-a-Day workshops hosted at more than 10 campuses across the county.
CalFresh, paired with expanding on-campus food pantries, provides students with the support they need to refocus their energies on academic success!
“I would just say to listen – listen to what the community is saying, because obviously we are saying it for a reason. We are not complaining for no reason. Take notice of what is going on in the community because it is a dire need out there for food, people really are struggling.”
-Imani, Student at San Diego State University
“It’s kind of tough, you know. Sometimes I just survive on granolas. I could show you the amount of granolas I have in my backpack – it’s so many. Because sometimes I just don’t have enough money to go buy food every day .”
Mitzy, Student at San Diego University
“I think one of the misconceptions is that it’s wrong to ask the government for help. I’m hoping that one day I’ll graduate and have the kind of money to give back what I took. Some people are really stubborn – they don’t want to have other people help them.”
-Edward, Student at San Diego State University
“I am passionate about student hunger because I know what it feels like. I’ve been there. I’m currently still there, in those shoes. And I wouldn’t want another student to feel hungry or even to go through those kind of feelings that I’ve been through…”
-Elaine, Student at Southwestern College
The 7th Annual ¡Latin Food Fest! comes to the San Diego Bay on August 17th and 18th and is helping to raise awareness and funds to fight hunger in San Diego County. 100% of all proceeds from “Designated Driver” tickets, silent auctions, and gifts made through the festival’s website will go to the Hunger Coalition to support our Hunger Free Kids program.
The West Coast’s premiere Hispanic culinary celebration includes the high-energy festival kick-off extravaganza “Latin Spirits Festival,” followed by “Gran Tasting,” which features food, beverage, wine, beer, and spirits stations, cooking and cocktail demos by award winning chefs and mixologists.
For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.latinfoodfest.com.
San Diego Hunger Coalition’s Hunger Free Kids Program works with schools, district, government agencies, and nonprofits to start or expand federal child nutrition programs. Our research shows that in 2016 there were $170 million in unused federal resources for free meals for low-income children in San Diego County. Through our Hunger Free Kids Program, we help schools and nonprofits access these resources and use them to their fullest potential to feed more kids in need.
Learn more at sdhunger.org/hunger-free-kids
Breakfast is considered the most important meal of the day, and recent studies have confirmed this long-held truth. Schools that participate in the federal School Breakfast Program report better outcomes for:
Academic performance: Students who eat school breakfast score higher on math tests.
Attendance: Student attendance improves when they provide breakfast to their students through various breakfast programs.
Graduation rates: Students who eat breakfast on average attend 1.5 more days of school per year.
Behavior: School breakfast reduces disruptive behavior that results in disciplinary actions.
The truth is that most schools do offer breakfast before classes start. But making a balanced meal available isn’t enough if students can’t get to school in time to enjoy it. That’s why the San Diego Hunger Coalition supports Breakfast After the Bell, a program that give students another chance to get something to eat before the lunch hour.
There are three ways that schools can offer Breakfast After the Bell:
If you know a school in your area that does not serve Breakfast After the Bell and would like to help them start, contact Paloma Perez, Hunger Free Kids Director, at (619) 501-7917 ext. 104 or paloma@sdhunger.org.
On a sunny Wednesday in mid-July, over 100 kids gather at the Cesar Chavez Community Center in San Ysidro for burgers, hot dogs, watermelon, corn, milk, and juice. There is music, activities, face painting, and a chance to meet and play games with local police officers. Spread out amongst picnic tables, blankets, playgrounds, and benches, families enjoy a beautiful San Diego summer day. Parents love the healthy food and safe environment, and the chance for their kids to do something fun.
“I’ve lived here for 35 years, this is the first time I’ve come,” says Javier, a father of two girls. Javier’s daughters are enjoying watermelon, low-fat milk, hotdogs, and corn on the cob. “I’ve been financially strapped lately, so BBQs like this are great to give my kids something to do during the summer. I wish there were more activities like this.”
South Bay Union School District (SBUDS) is a member of San Diego Hunger Coalition’s (SDHC) Hunger Free Kids Task Force. The Hunger Free Kids Program provides free technical support and ongoing guidance for schools, districts, and
nonprofits working to end child hunger in San Diego. San Diego Hunger Coalition has worked with SBUSD for nearly two years on SDHC’s initiative to ensure all children have access to wholesome meals each day throughout the year, so that parents like Javier have can bring their kids to safe spaces year-round for free meals and activities.
In 2019, South Bay Union School District received the United States Department of Agriculture’s Turnip the Beet gold award which recognizes outstanding Summer Meal Program sponsors for their work offering high-quality meals that are appetizing, appealing, and nutritious. SBUSD was one of three in California to receive the honor. One of the services provided by SDHC is media and public relations for partners with limited resources. When the Hunger Coalition put out the call for media, KUSI News responded with an on-site interview and news segment.
“It’s really important to make sure these kids are getting enough healthy food to eat during the summer,” says Ana Castro, Registered Dietitian for South Bay Union School District during an interview with KUSI News, “It’s nice to see kids happy, and see how summer meals take the strain off of families.”
SBUSD’s Summer Meals Program is focused on bringing people together in a way that resonates with the community. Because the school district serves a lot of Imperial Beach residents who love the outdoors, many of the summer meal sites are in parks or community centers. SBUSD also serves culturally appropriate meals that appeal to kids such as tamales, grilled
cheese sandwiches, burritos, and pizza. Kids love the food, parents love the locations, and participants keep coming back year after year.
“I brought 35 kids from our summer camp with the help of 15 high school volunteers,” says Yesenia Nuñez with Casa Familiar Youth Center during an interview with San Diego Hunger Coalition. “The kids love the watermelon and corn, and they’re excited about the new playground!”
A cornerstone of SBUSD’s Summer Meals Program are weekly BBQ’s. SBUSD invites families to a different site every week so that they can reach as many kids as possible. Hosted in partnership with the City of San Diego Parks and Recreation Department, every BBQ includes fun activities such as Zumba, live music, free curated samples of fresh produce, a food distribution provided by Feeding San Diego who is also a Hunger Free Kids Taskforce member and fire and police department meet and greets.
“Our slogan is to eat smart and play hard, and we really try to emphasize that,” says Manuel Gonzalez, District Manager with San Diego Parks and Recreation, “this partnership is so important, we wouldn’t be able to do it without South Bay Union School District. This is really a manifestation of all of the resources available to the community.”
SDHC has been a long supporter of expanding child nutrition programs in South Bay and in 2018 helped the district with securing a grant to implement Breakfast in the Classroom at Berry and Central Elementary Schools, ensuring more than 500 additional kids don’t miss the most important meal of the day.
In July 2019, Beck, Cage the Elephant, and Spoon are coming to San Diego for their Night Running Tour at the North Island Amphitheatre. The bands have selected San Diego Hunger Coalition as the beneficiary for a grant funded by a $1 add-on to each concert ticket sold. The bands are also hosting a special opportunity drawing for two VIP passes with a chance to meet Cage the Elephant after the concert. You are entered into the drawing when you make a donation through their website. Enter the drawing by July 19, 2019!
Donations are coordinated by Canadian nonprofit Plus1, whose programs are based on the idea that art is both a form of expression and a catalyst for change. They engage celebrity artists to create publicity, momentum, and funding for nonprofit organizations in the cities in which the artists perform.
For the Night Running Tour, all three bands selected Hunger Relief as their cause, and San Diego Hunger Coalition is in good company for the recipients of the tour’s grants!
Thank you to Beck, Cage the Elephant, Spoon, and Plus1! We are thrilled to be a part of this tour!
Every year, the San Diego Hunger Coalition challenges San Diego residents to eat on the average CalFresh budget for up to five days. For the 2019 CalFresh Challenge, the budget was $4.07/day per person. The purpose of the challenge is to raise awareness of hunger in our communities while giving people a glimpse of what it is like to live on a meager food budget.
This year, several of our staff members took the CalFresh Challenge for the full five days. Below are some pictures from their week.
If you took the CalFresh Challenge, we would love to hear about your experiences in the comments below. If you were unable to take the challenge this year, that’s okay! There are lots of ways you can support hunger relief in our community, including making a donation to support our CalFresh Outreach Program.
Shopping trip for Joe and his wife. They found it easier to stay on the CalFresh budget if they prepared a mostly vegan menu.
Joe’s lunch every day during the CalFresh Challenge.
Joe’s dinner for two nights of the challenge.
This was Joe’s dinner for one of the nights. He was finishing up his master’s degree with late-night classes and found he didn’t have the energy to cook by the time he got home after working all day and then going to school.
Dinner for Joe and his wife - cucumber nori rolls.
Amanda’s shopping trip for the CalFresh Challenge. Amanda has done this challenge for several years and has learned how to shop for healthy and filling food on a limited budget. It’s a skill and takes time.
Jaqueline’s shopping trip for the CalFresh Challenge.
Dinner and Jaqueline’s lunches for the week.
One of Jaqueline’s dinners. She admits it wasn’t the healthiest choice, but it was one of the most affordable on her limited budget.
Each year the Hunger Advocacy Network, facilitated by the San Diego Hunger Coalition, selects local, state, and federal legislative priorities that the group follows closely and advocates for or against. These priorities have the potential to deeply impact hunger relief in positive or negative ways.
Legislative advocacy is one of the most effective ways to implement lasting change by becoming an active part of American democracy. Below are easy-read overviews of the 2019 priorities.
Questions? Contact Amanda Schultz Brochu, Senior Director of Programs, at amanda@sdhunger.org.
Background: When the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, California was required to create a way for people to enroll in affordable healthcare plans. The state created CalHEERS, an online system where people can input their information and select the healthcare program that is right for them. In many instances, health coverage is provided by Medi-Cal, California’s government-funded health program for low-income residents. Often, when someone is eligible for Medi-Cal, they are also eligible for CalFresh food assistance benefits.
What This Bill Does: This bill will allow applicants applying for affordable healthcare through the CalHEERS online system to apply for CalFresh at the same time.
Impact: There will be a potential increase in CalFresh enrollment due to simplifying the application process and removing the stigma that is attached to asking for food assistance by circumventing direct application. There may be an accompanying decrease in food insecurity throughout the State of California. Although more California residents may start receiving CalFresh benefits, this will not cost taxpayers any additional money since CalFresh is federally funded and these funds will be collected through federal income taxes regardless of whether this bill passes.
Background: When a person applies for CalFresh food assistance, the county takes their cost of living into account when determining the amount of benefits they will receive. Applicants qualify for more benefits if they have higher housing expenses. Under federal law, states may select for themselves how to verify cost of housing. In California, this process is often drawn-out, difficult, and prone to multiple barriers for low-income residents such as lack of timely access to lease agreements, the cost of duplicating and sending paperwork to the appropriate offices, and living situations without a lease.
What This Bill Does: This bill will simplify the process by allowing applicants to submit a self-certified statement of their housing expenses. Counties may still request further verification if the applicant’s statement is questionable and their housing costs seem out of the ordinary.
Impact: There may be reduced administrative costs to counties that will no longer have to expend resources on a time-consuming verification process. This bill will also remove barriers to low-income families in high-cost-of-housing regions in California from accessing CalFresh benefits. This will increase the stability of these households and their access to healthy food while stimulating the local economy. There may be an accompanying decrease in food insecurity throughout the State of California. Although CalFresh benefits may increase for some recipients, this will not cost taxpayers any additional money since CalFresh is federally funded and these funds will be collected through federal income taxes regardless of whether this bill passes.
Background: California State law requires that all needy children in grades K-12 be provided at least one nutritionally balanced meal each school day for free or low-cost. These meals are generally reimbursable through federal child nutrition programs, and the State of California has created an additional fund to supplement federal funding. Most preschool and child care providers, however, are excluded from funding for child nutrition and low-income children in public preschool and subsidized childcare remain the only public school students not guaranteed access to a nutritious, affordable meal.
What This Bill Does: This bill will expand existing child nutrition programs to include pre-school and child care facilities operated by a school district, county, or state. Part-day facilities will be required by law to provide one nutritionally-balanced meal, full-day facilities will be required to provide two nutritionally-balanced meal.
Impact: Low-income children will be guaranteed at least one nutritious meal each school day. Studies show that proper nutrition at these young ages reduce the risk of childhood obesity and diabetes and increase academic performance and physical and mental development. This bill will also help low-income families meet their basic needs by reducing the household grocery bill and freeing up funds for other necessities such as clothing and housing.
Background: California is the nation’s largest producer of agriculture, providing half of the United States’ fresh produce. The state currently allows a tax deduction for growers and harvesters of fresh fruit and produce who donate a portion of their surplus to food banks. Nonetheless, California experiences high levels of food insecurity, food deserts, and food waste.
What This Bill Does: This bill will expand access to the tax credit provided to agricultural growers by adding additional staple items grown and produced in California such as dairy, canned goods, and processed grains. It will also expand who may request a tax credit to include not only growers and harvesters but also food manufacturers and preparation facilities.
Impact: This bill will potentially increase access to healthy foods via food banks who may have an increased supply of shelf-stable food staples. California growers and producers will also receive financial relief in the form of a tax credit for food products not sold. This bill may also result in reduced food waste which is a drain on precious California resources, such as water, and an environmental hazard.
Background: Under the current law, college students may receive CalFresh (SNAP) food assistance if they meet very strict eligibility guidelines. Foster youth going to college must meet those same guidelines, but without the support system that many traditional students have. Foster youth have poorer educational outcomes when compared to their non-foster peers due to financial instability and lack of support. Increasing access to food is a researched-backed way to improve educational outcomes while providing a financial lift.
What This Bill Does: This bill would establish a new nutritional support program for transitional foster youth (between the ages of 18 and 21) that will provide benefits amounting to the cost of a meal plan at post-high school educational institutions a foster youth is currently attending. The meal plan or meal plan equivalent must provide 10 meals/week. The bill will also ensure that foster youth are not denied CalFresh benefits because they have received housing assistance or are participating in an unpaid internship instead of a paid job.
Impact: This bill will ensure that current and former foster youth have enough to eat, both through CalFresh (SNAP) and college meal programs. The expected outcomes are improved academic performance in higher education programs, and increased graduation rates with certifications, associate’s, and bachelor’s degrees. Completion of higher education prepares foster youths to excel and succeed in their post-foster system lives.
Background: Restaurants on California State University campuses are able to participate in the California’s CalFresh Restaurant Meal Program (RMP). Currently students attending community colleges are only be able to access the program if their county participates.
What this bill does: The bill would expand the CalFresh RMP to any and all California community colleges, even if that country does not participate in the Restaurant Meal Program.
Impact: This bill would allow community college students with a disability or who are homeless to be able to use their CalFresh as participating restaurants on their community college campuses.
Background: The Restaurant Meal Program (RMP) allows CalFresh recipients who are over the age of 60, have a disability, or are homeless to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase meals at qualified restaurants. Counties are currently ablate apply to the state to implement RMP. 11 counties across California are currently implementing RMP.
What this bill does: This bill would expand access to the RMP to all eligible CalFresh recipients by requiring the CA Department of Social Services, to the extent permitted. by federal law and in consultation with various stakeholders, to establish statewide RMP on or before September 1, 2020.
Impact: This bill would greatly expand access to hot meals for individuals who are unable to prepare hot meals due to physical or cognitive limitations, or lack of proper meal preparation facilities. The decrease of food insecurity and improvement of health outcomes has not been determined at the time of this writing.
Starting in June 2019, major changes are coming to Californians who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Previously, SSI recipients were ineligible in California to also receive CalFresh (SNAP) benefits. This will end in June!
For more information, check out our SSI Repients page on our website.
Nonprofit and community organizations can find helpful resources on our SSI partner page.
When the SSI program began in the 1970’s, states were given the option to include a cash benefit for food, lumped into SSI payments, instead of providing food stamps for SSI recipients. This was known as the “SSI Cashout” and was a way for states to save on administrative costs while still providing for their low-income residents.
Over the years, the SSI Cashout has become a problem for many low-income Californians. One of the problems is that the $10 food benefit started in the 1970’s never saw an increase. in 2019, SSI recipients still get the same $10 for food assistance, while they remain ineligible for CalFresh benefits. Additionally, the current individual SSI benefit total is the same level it was in 1983! Someone on SSI will receive an average payment of $932/month while the 2019 federal poverty level is $1,040/.month.
Many Californians are below the poverty level and struggling to meet their basic needs. Those on SSI often have to make the tough choices between paying for housing, medicine, and food. The Hunger Coalition was active and instrumental in gathering momentum to end SSI Cashout an reinstate state funding to increase SSI benefits and a Cost of Living Adjustment. This year, these efforts were successful! The changes that take effect in June 2019 have the potential to significantly reduce food insecurity among seniors and people with disabilities in San Diego County and across the state of California.
The San Diego Hunger Coalition is actively training and working with local nonprofit organizations, the County of San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, and the California Department of Social Services to educate and inform those affected by the changes and encourage those eligible for CalFresh to apply. We have created special web pages with information and resources for both SSI recipients and the organizations that serve them.
Questions? Contact Jaqueline Hess, CalFresh Program Manager, at jaqueline@sdhunger.org.
We fight hunger in San Diego county. Stats on hunger say that an estimated 476,000 San Diegans are food insecure. Hunger affects children, veterans, senior citizens, and many others.
San Diego Hunger Coalition leads collaborative action to end hunger supported by research, education, and advocacy.
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San Diego Hunger Coalition | 845 15th Street, Ste 103, San Diego, CA 92101 | (619) 501-7917 | info@sdhunger.org | Copyright 2022
