The Trump administration’s decision not to extend food assistance benefits during the ongoing government shutdown will affect 131,891 needy recipients in San Joaquin County starting Saturday, officials say.
The county is hoping to be able to at least partially make up for the delay in what used to be known as food stamps, now called CalFresh in California and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) nationally. It plans to enhance its own food purchases so it can hand them out to qualifying individuals.
The county Human Services Agency will buy 28,000 emergency food boxes under its Food For You program that will be distributed through partner agencies.
But the loss of benefits from the federal government creates a huge hole. Some $25 million in CalFresh benefits are distributed in the county every month, the county said.
Nationally, about one in eight Americans depend on SNAP, the Associated Press reports. Benefits are loaded on debit cards that can only be used to buy food. The average monthly allotment is $187 per person nationally.
State officials said they believe those who have money left over from October on their CalFresh will be able to use them in November — at least for now.
Those in need won’t be forgotten, county officials vow.
“We are committed to providing support and resources to our residents during this unprecedented time,” said county HSA director Chris Woods in a statement. About 65,903 low-income families’ benefits in the county will be delayed unless Congress or the administration takes action. The county is trying to direct low-income individuals and families to local food banks.
One of the largest in the county, Stockton’s Emergency Food Bank, had already been short of food this year due to cuts in food programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. CEO Leonard Hansen told Stocktonia earlier this month that the food bank, which distributed 7.2 million pounds of food last year, has seen a reduction of 30,000 pounds a week. It’s been trying to make up the difference by buying food while depending on donations.
Gov. Gavin Newsom has pledged to spend up to $80 million to support food banks and California National Guard troops to deliver the supplies.
California is among more than two dozen states that have filed suit against the federal government to try to stop the interruption in SNAP.
The USDA initially said it could disburse leftover emergency funds in order to deliver the $8 billion doled out monthly for SNAP. But it later reversed course, saying it couldn’t legally use the money, the New York Times reported. It could only use it to fund disasters like earthquakes and floods.