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Child Nutrition Reauthorization vital to fighting child hunger

August 27, 2019 By Cassidie Bates

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Urges Diane Feinstein and Kamala Harris to support efforts to close the summer child hunger gap which impacts over 2 Million children in California.

We realize summer is coming to end and most kids are back in school, but there is important legislation we want everyone to be aware of. Congress has a chance to help feed hungry children next summer and beyond with the upcoming Child Nutrition Reauthorization process by improving access to summer meals sites, providing summer grocery cards, and allowing alternate delivery models in areas where kids are not able to access the other programs.

More than 22 million children nationally receive free or reduced-price lunch during the school year, yet a mere 17% of them access free meals in summer through the Summer Food Service Program. What this translates to is 2,139,517 children in California who are at an especially high risk of going hungry during summertime.

We are on the front lines of the fight against child hunger in Contra Costa and Solano counties in California and we see how hunger affects a child’s growth, ability to learn and their health. Every child deserves to have access to enough food whether school is in session or not.

The school districts in Contra Costa and Solano counties work hard to provide food to children in our community, but they are burdened by administrative rules that make it hard to operate summer meal sites. The reality is some children cannot access a summer meal because of geographic and transportation obstacles, which is why we support expanding nutrition programs to allow for summer grocery cards and alternate delivery models to give children in need equitable access to meals no matter where they live.

Congress can help by streamlining how summer and after school programs work together, which will result in the ability to feed more children in need. We urge our senators to support the following three bills that would help us ensure every child has access to the nutritious meals they need to grow, learn and thrive.

Hunger Free Summer for Kids Act of 2019 (S.1918): Introduced by John Boozman (R-AR), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), and John Hoeven (R-ND)
Summer Meals Act of 2019 (S.1908): Introduced by Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Stop Child Summer Hunger Act of 2019 (S.1941): Introduced by Patty Murray (D-WA)

Make YOUR voice heard by calling your senators at (202) 224-3121 and encourage them to support these three bills.

We thank you for your consideration and support,

Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Get the Facts About Public Charge (English/Español)

August 16, 2019 By Cassidie Bates

WHAT is Public Charge and why is it a hot topic right now? Public Charge has been an aspect of US Immigration Law for over 100 years and is part of what allows immigration officials to determine who is granted visas, green cards, and citizenship. An announced change to Public Charge (Department of Homeland Security: Inadmissibility on Public Charge Grounds) was published by the Trump Administration on Wednesday, August 14^th. The proposed changes would allow federal officials to deny green cards to legal immigrants who are LIKELY IN THE FUTURE to receive certain public benefits.

WHEN does Public Charge come up? The Public Charge Assessment happens when a person: applies to enter the US, applies to adjust status to become a Lawful Permanent Resident (obtaining a green card), or a green card holder leaves the US for more than 180 consecutive days (6 months) and reenters. Most immigrants are not eligible for public benefits for up to 5 years; the new Public Charge rule would determine if individuals would likely use Public Benefits when in the US, based on certain criteria.

WHICH Public Benefits are examined? Utilizing the following public benefits could make a recipient subject to the Public Charge Test: CalFresh (SNAP)/Food Stamps, CalWorks (TANF/Cash Aid), Medicaid*, and Housing Assistance (Public Housing, Section 8, Rental Assistance). Those who would be impacted by this rule change are individuals, deemed by the Public Charge Test, to be more likely than not to receive public benefits for a cumulative 12 months or longer during a 36-month period. Two separate benefits (such as SNAP and housing assistance) used during the same month, count as 2 months out of the 12 months.

WHO is NOT affected? Public Charge does NOT affect everyone. The following individuals are not subject to the Public Charge Test: Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders) who are applying for citizenship, Active-Duty Service members and their spouses and kids, recipients of Children’s Health Insurance Program, users of Medicaid who are either pregnant or children*, Medicare Part D (prescription drug subsidy program) recipients, WIC recipients, Pell Grant recipients, Refugees, Asylees, individuals with Special Immigrant Juvenile Status, VAWA self-petitioners, U or T visa applicants/holders, and certain parolees.

WHAT is the Public Charge Test criteria? The test would take into account: age, health, family status, financial resources, education, and skills. Immigration officials would grant a positive and a negative score for an individual in each section when making their determination of the Public Charge Test results.

WHEN and WHERE does this happen? This is a federal proposal and therefore would impact Californians who are enrolled in the public benefits listed above and are seeking to change their immigration status on or after October 15th, 2019. This proposal was posted by the Trump Administration on Wednesday, August 14th and will be officially published on October 15th, unless litigation prevents publication. Any public benefit that one applies for or uses ON or AFTER October 15th, 2019 could subject one to the Public Charge Test. Any benefit usage or application to change immigration status submitted prior to October 15th, 2019 will NOT be subjected to the Public Charge Test.

WHAT is changing from the current Public Charge rule?: This new proposal is forward-looking, meaning the assessment will judge if an individual is more likely than not to rely on public assistance in the future. Additionally, more types of public benefits would be taken into consideration by immigration officials.

Next steps for those impacted?: Remember the rule is not yet finalized and litigation may prevent it from becoming law prior to October 15th, 2019. Each person and their set of circumstances is unique and advice given to one individual doesn’t apply to all; seek advice from professionals and immigration attorneys. Continue using the benefits you and your family need to remain healthy, strong and employable. Engage in community education to know your rights and become knowledgeable about what you can do. REMEMBER: THIS PUBLIC CHARGE TEST WOULD NOT LOOK AT BENEFITS USED BEFORE OCTOBER 15TH, 2019. This will affect those who apply to change their immigration status (in one of the above categories) on or after October 15th, 2019 and are deemed likely to use public benefits in the future when they’d be eligible.

Questions? Contact Cassidie Bates at [email protected] or 925-334-2766.

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Estimado Socio Comunitario,

El Banco de Comida del Condado de Contra Costa y Solano y nuestras agencias asociadas son una red basada en la comunidad, que proporciona alimentos a las personas necesitadas, sin importar su estatus legal. Al trabajar con nuestras agencias asociadas, organizaciones gubernamentales y la comunidad filantrópica, ponemos alimentos a la disposición de las personas a través de las agencias comunitarias a las que servimos y las distribuciones directas de alimentos que operamos.

Desafortunadamente, el clima en la actualidad ha causado confusión y miedo a las personas a las que servimos, especialmente en nuestras comunidades inmigrantes. Les pido su ayuda para que la comunidad tome conciencia de que nosotros como organización privada sin fines de lucro, el Banco de Comida no está obligado a informar el estatus legal de las personas a las que servimos y nunca compartirá información personal con las autoridades de inmigración. Tomamos un reporte de la cantidad de personas a las que servimos para poder informar a la comunidad como estamos combatiendo el hambre, pero nunca compartiremos los nombres de las personas quien reciben comida en nuestras organizaciones.

El Banco de Comida también ayuda a las personas a llenar solicitudes para el programa CalFresh, la respuesta más eficaz de nuestra nación para combatir el hambre. Cuando el personal de CalFresh del Banco de Comida proporciona asistencia con la solicitud, enviamos esa información al departamento correspondiente en el condado.

Continuamos sirviendo a 178,000 personas cada mes que necesiten asistencia alimentaria. Nos preocupa que los temores de acciones inminentes a gran escala impidan que las personas obtengan la ayuda que necesitan. Es importante que las personas entiendan que respetamos su privacidad y que estamos para ayudarlos a obtener la asistencia alimentaria que sus familias necesitan. El Banco de Comida es parte de una comunidad que se preocupa por los demás. Ayúdenos a combatir el hambre en nuestras comunidades más necesitadas.

New advocates graduate from Speaker Series 2019

June 10, 2019 By Lisa

We won’t be able to truly end hunger without coming together and changing policy. For this reason, one of the core pillars of our policy work is the Speaker Series.

The Speaker Series is designed to help people who experience hunger gain the tools and knowledge they need to become effective anti-hunger advocates.

On the evening of June 5th, we had 12 community advocates graduate from our 2019 Speaker Series. Our graduates attended eight weeks of workshops on public speaking and civic engagement, learning how to use personal stories to change public policy.

In order to put into practice what was learned, participants went to Sacramento for Hunger Action Day. Advocates shared their own stories of hunger with their elected officials and asked them to pass specific legislation to address this pressing issue. (You can view photos of Hunger Action Day on our Facebook page.)

We all have a story to share. The Speaker Series helps participants shape personal experiences into powerful narratives that inspire people to take action to end hunger.

Lend your voice on Hunger Action Day, May 22

May 6, 2019 By Guest

Representatives from the Food Bank will bus up to the State Capitol on Hunger Action Day, May 22, to meet up with other hunger-fighting advocates from throughout California. They will share their stories with elected officials and call for legislative change.

Even if you can’t be with us in Sacramento, we urge you to get on our “virtual bus” on May 22nd and let your elected officials know that fighting hunger needs to be a priority.

You can still fight hunger by:

Following #HungerAction2019 and @FoodBankCCS on Facebook and Twitter
Sharing on your favorite social media: Do you believe food is a human right? Hunger has no place in the Golden State! #HungerAction2019 #EndHungerTogether
Donating to help us continue our work to make lasting change for hungry people in your community: Due to a donor match, your gift can be doubled throughout the month of May if you use this specific link: foodbankccs.org/matchinggift.

Need Remains High in Wake of Shutdown

February 27, 2019 By Guest

Although the shutdown is over for federal employees, many of our clients are still unsure about how they will afford food without increased help from the Food Bank .

“I’m probably going to have to go a few days without food for myself, to make sure that my kids are able to eat.” –Clarence a single father from Vallejo

As you may not know, many people we serve also receive federal nutrition benefits (CalFresh) and because of the recent government shutdown, families will be receiving their next benefit 10 to 20 days late.

This disruption in CalFresh benefits is predicted to cause an unprecedented strain on food banks. CalFresh typically provides families with enough food to last two to three weeks and a third of all recipients already rely on food banks to make ends meet.

Help us meet this increased need.

Government shutdown ends, hardship continues

February 4, 2019 By Guest

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is relieved congressional leaders and the administration reached a deal last week to temporarily re-open the federal government. However, we remain deeply concerned about the lasting impact this shutdown will have for federal workers and contractors, food assistance recipients, and emergency food providers like the Food Bank.

While federal workers will receive back pay, more than a million federal contract employees will not. This is a significant financial impact, as almost 10% of their yearly pay was lost during the shutdown. We anticipate that both federal workers and contractors will continue to need food assistance as they recover from this financial hurdle and brace for the possibility of another closure.

The uncertainty of the shutdown also caused an early issuance of February Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Families and individuals received February benefits on January 16. This has created a “SNAP gap” that is likely to cause significant financial strain for SNAP participants, who will go 40 to 60 days without a benefit payment. While the total amount of nutrition assistance will not change, the long gap between the availability of benefits will cause hardship for many households and further strain the emergency food assistance network.

SNAP typically provides families with about two to three weeks of food, and a third of all recipients already rely on food banks to make ends meet for the remainder of the month. In addition to creating a great amount of confusion, this prolonged gap between nutrition benefit payments will create an unprecedented strain on emergency food networks like ours.

Click here to watch the KTVU story that recently ran about a volunteer personally impacted by the shutdown.

There is also the very real concern that an agreement on a long-term spending bill may not be reached by February 15 and we could have another shutdown. If this occurs, the same budgetary provision used to pay out February benefits could be utilized to distribute April benefits early. While this may be necessary in order to ensure that people receive April benefits, it would create another straining and confusing SNAP gap. If the government were to shut down again for an extended period of time, May SNAP benefits would face an uncertain future.

The Food Bank is calling on the administration and Congress to reach a long-term compromise as soon as possible in order to allow the federal government to remain open and alleviate the stress, hunger, and hardship the partial shutdown has caused for millions of Americans.

Tell your elected officials today: the government MUST stay open. Every elected official – from the White House and halls of Congress to local and state leaders – needs to understand that nearly 40 million Americans’ food assistance is on the line if the government shuts down again.

Carly Finkle is the Policy and Advocacy Manager for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano

Government shutdown’s impact on hunger

January 15, 2019 By Guest

Last week the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that, despite the ongoing federal government shutdown, they will continue to fund federal nutrition programs through February.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano is relieved that important benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as CalFresh), the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and school meals will remain available for the time being to provide assistance to those who need it.

We are, however, deeply concerned about the fact that households in California already received their February CalFresh benefits today, January 15th. If the government does not reopen or specifically appropriate funds for nutrition assistance, there is not enough in federal reserves to cover the cost of March benefits.

If funds are available for March CalFresh benefits, families and individuals will still experience a significant gap in between their benefit payments. CalFresh typically provides families with about two to three weeks of food, and a third of all recipients already rely on food banks to make ends meet. In addition to creating a great amount of confusion, this prolonged gap between nutrition benefit payments will create an unprecedented strain on emergency food networks like ours.

For every meal our food bank provides, federal programs like CalFresh provide twelve.

Furthermore, as furloughed federal employees and contractors missed their first paycheck last week, we anticipate an increase in demand for food assistance from families and individuals who are experiencing hardship due to the shutdown. To help bridge the gap until the government reopens, furloughed workers and CalFresh households are eligible to receive food assistance from the Food Bank.

Unfortunately, during the shutdown the USDA will not be able to provide our food bank with funding to help offset the cost of distributing federally provided nonperishable goods into our community. This additional cost is not something anticipated in our budget and will be harder to cover over time.

The Food Bank is prepared to support the community through any crisis, and this shutdown is no different. However, we remain deeply concerned that demand will exceed our capacity if these critical programs do not continue to receive funds. Please call your members of Congress today and tell them to reopen the government immediately.

Take action and

Call the Capitol switchboard and ask to be connected to your Representative or Senator (202) 224-3121

Call the President (202) 456-1111

Submit a comment to the President: https://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/

DeSaulnier: Trump food-stamp cuts would increase hunger

November 20, 2018 By Guest

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)

By MARK DESAULNIER |

Published in the Mercury News: November 20, 2018 at 6:45 am | UPDATED: November 20, 2018 at 12:55 pm

As we sit down for Thanksgiving dinner, let’s think of the millions of Americans who don’t know where their next meal will come from — and the millions more who will be in the same predicament by next Thanksgiving if the president has his way.

Following Donald Trump’s unprecedented giveaway to billionaires and corporations, he lamented “a person who is not working at all and has no intention of working at all is making more money and doing better than the person that’s working his and her ass off.”

He acted by attacking social safety-net programs, like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, the program formerly known as food stamps and now known in California as CalFresh. SNAP is the nation’s largest domestic food assistance program that gives financial support to families that cannot always afford to put food on the table.

The president and congressional Republicans are using the budget on this crusade to undermine SNAP. In his 2019 budget, President Trump proposes slashing SNAP by $17.2 billion, which would leave at least 4 million people hungry.

Republicans have also proposed funding cuts through reauthorization of the Farm Bill by trimming as much as $75 per month from monthly benefits for up to 1.1 million families.

Farm Bill negotiations are currently underway and, while we cannot predict the outcome, it is clear that House Republicans and the president are after a funding cut however they can get it. And they want to get this done before Democrats, who do not support these cuts, take over the majority in the House in January.

The administration is not leaving the cutting to Congress, though, and has proposed its own way to hinder the program. Currently, the rules of the program require all SNAP recipients who are able-bodied adults without dependents to be employed at least 20 hours a week. Recognizing regional differences in access to work, states or localities can apply for a waiver to this rule to decrease the hardship on families.

The administration proposes a rule change that would eliminate waivers altogether except in exceedingly rare circumstances. This change would go back on more than 20 years of precedent and would endanger benefits nationwide.

California had a statewide waiver for nearly a decade before it expired this year, but most counties still have individual waivers. By this time in 2019, 52 of the state’s 58 counties could still be covered by waivers. Those counties would be in danger of losing those waivers if the administration’s rule change goes into effect. Further, if the state goes through another economic downturn, it would be at risk of not qualifying for future waivers.

The administration’s proposal is still in draft form, but it is almost universally recognized that the administration will wield its power to see this through in one form or another. It could take months or longer to go into effect.

While work is the best path to self-sufficiency, threatening someone with hunger is cruel and in no way incentivizes employment. Our duty as a nation is to provide for all Americans and ensure that they can live healthy and successful lives. Federal nutrition programs reflect that commitment.

Rather than cutting funding and imposing arbitrary requirements, we should invest in job training and workforce development while also protecting successful safety-net programs like CalFresh. With additional support, we will see much more success in assisting families to enter the workforce and attain well-paying jobs, which in the long term can help them transition off CalFresh when they are ready.

The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano has already facilitated two community-wide meetings on the topic and local community colleges are poised to roll out employment and training programs on their campuses early next year.

This holiday season, I am grateful to live in a community that is already coming together to protect our most vulnerable residents. We must all continue to fight Trump’s policies and protect nutrition programs and those they serve so that everyone can enjoy a plentiful Thanksgiving — this year and all the years to come.

Rep. Mark DeSaulnier, D-Concord, represents most of Contra Costa County.

Proposed Public Charge Rule Would Undermine Efforts to Fight Hunger and Poverty

September 26, 2018 By Larry

CONCORD, September 23, 2018 — The Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano strongly opposes the proposed public charge rule announced this weekend by the Department of Homeland Security. This proposal would make it extremely difficult for many immigrants to come to the U.S. or receive green cards if they are determined likely to become a “public charge,” which would include using public benefits like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, also known as CalFresh).

Español abajo

This proposed rule targets low-income immigrant families that legally access benefits to help meet their basic needs, but it has had widespread chilling effect throughout the immigrant community. Over the past month, 1 in 5 individuals approached by the Food Bank’s SNAP outreach workers have declined to apply for food assistance due to immigration fears.

Our staff have even heard from naturalized U.S. citizens – who would never be impacted by this policy – asking to terminate SNAP benefits for themselves and their citizen children out of fear that it may affect their immigration status. Whether this proposal directly targets them or not, the threat of public charge is forcing immigrants to make impossible choices between keeping their families together and accessing vital programs that safeguard their health and well-being.

Only 71.8% of eligible Californians actually use SNAP benefits, and anti-immigrant proposals like this threaten our local efforts to improve program access and participation. Every $1 in SNAP generates $1.79 in economic activity, and the program has long-term benefits for participating children’s health and economic outcomes. Public charge threatens the nutrition, health and shared prosperity of our communities.

The Food Bank has joined the national Protecting Immigrant Families campaign to help mobilize the public to condemn this attack on our nation’s health and well-being. We will soon share model comments to submit to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. We urge you to join us in denouncing this mean-spirited proposal, which will undermine decades of progress in reducing hunger in this country.

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La norma propuesta de Carga Pública quebrantaría los esfuerzos para combatir el hambre y la pobreza

El Banco de Comida de Contra Costa y Solano se opone fuertemente a la propuesta de ley cargo público, anunciada por el Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. Esta propuesta haría que sea extremadamente difícil para muchos inmigrantes venir a Los Estados Unidos o recibir tarjetas de residencia si se determina que se convertirán en una carga pública, lo que incluiría el uso de beneficios públicos como el programa de nutrición suplementaria (SNAP, también conocido como CalFresh.)

Esta nueva propuesta se dirige a las familias de inmigrantes de bajos ingresos que tienen acceso legalmente a los beneficios para ayudar a satisfacer sus necesidades básicas, pero tiene un efecto de escalofrió generalizado en toda la comunidad inmigrante. Durante el último mes, 1 de cada 5 individuos a los que se acercaron los trabajadores de programa SNAP del Banco de Comida se han negado a solicitar asistencia alimentaria debido a los temores de inmigración.

Nuestro personal incluso ha escuchado a ciudadanos estadounidenses naturalizados, que nunca se verán afectados por esta política, pidiendo que se terminen los beneficios de SNAP para ellos y sus hijos ciudadanos por temor a que pueda afectar a su estado migratorio. Si esta propuesta se dirige directamente a ellos o no, la amenaza de la carga publica está forzando a los inmigrantes a tomar decisiones entre mantener a sus familias unidas y tener acceso a programas vitales para proteger su salud y bienestar.

Solo 71.8% de los Californianos elegibles realmente usan los beneficios de SNAP, y las propuestas antiinmigrantes como esta amenazan nuestros esfuerzos locales para mejorar el acceso y la participación en el programa. Cada $1 en SNAP genera $1.79 en actividad económica y el programa tiene beneficios a largo plazo para la salud y los resultados económicos de los niños participantes. La carga pública amenaza la nutrición, la salud y la prosperidad de nuestras comunidades.

El Banco de Comida se ha unido a la Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign para ayudar a movilizar al público para condenar este ataque a la salud y el bienestar de nuestra nación. Pronto compartiremos los comentarios modelo para presentarlos al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional. Le invitamos a que se una a nosotros para denunciar esta propuesta, que quebrantaría décadas de progreso en la reducción del hambre en el país.

Your support is helping fire victims

September 11, 2018 By Jenny

The Food Bank’s efforts to help during Northern California’s unprecedented fire season have been ongoing. The unpredictable nature of fire means things change quickly, but we have a team helping whenever and wherever we can be of assistance.

In case you missed our prior updates, you can catch up by checking our Facebook posts on August 9, August 24 and August 31. Though the CARR fire is finally 100% contained, the devastation remains and many residents remain displaced. One of our staff members deployed to the area reported back that “people are tired–VERY TIRED, the air is bad and smells of toxic chemicals.” She explained that even though the conditions are really hard–with an almost unbearable combination of heat and poor air quality–people are so very thankful that we are there for them.

Early on, we sent CalFresh outreach workers to the Redding area to help people affected by the fires apply for Disaster CalFresh. This federal program helps victims meet the temporary nutritional needs within a 30-day period following a natural disaster. Many of the people we met with were initially unclear about the benefits and assumed that they would not qualify because they aren’t eligible for traditional CalFresh. After we dispelled myths and clarified half-truths, people were surprised and relieved at the potential for benefits. Many spoke of complete loss and while CalFresh won’t replace everything in their refrigerator, freezer, and pantry, they were grateful for our outreach assistance.

Moving forward, here’s the latest update on our fire relief efforts:

Late last week it was decided that we’d continue weekly food distributions to Dignity Health Connected Living agencies through October to assist in the CARR fire recovery AND continue weekly food distributions to two low-income schools in Shasta County.
- We are receiving, processing and transporting emergency boxes from Feeding America, as well as donations of cereal and shelf-stable groceries from Kellogg’s and C&S Wholesale Grocers.
- We are donating and sending produce to the affected area.
We are continuing to send staff to oversee these distributions in Redding.
We are also communicating with agencies serving the Shasta and Siskiyou counties to see how we can help with the Delta fire AND with officials in Napa County to offer aid with the Snell Fire.

It’s amazing what we can accomplish when we all work together for a common goal. Whether it’s fighting chronic hunger, or responding to a natural disaster, the Food Bank is prepared to help our neighbors get the food they need.

Seniors and People With Disabilities Finally Get Hunger Relief

July 2, 2018 By Guest

In a historic budget agreement signed by the Governor on June 27th, the state of California is finally easing hunger for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. This 2018-19 budget deal will allow Californians on SSI to qualify for CalFresh nutrition assistance beginning in mid-2019.

SSI is a safety net program that provides a minimal basic income to older adults and people with disabilities who have little-to-no other income and resources. Although the maximum income grant for an individual is just $910.72 a month, SSI recipients have been ineligible for CalFresh, formerly known as food stamps, since the 1970s.

During the Great Recession in 2009 and 2010, the state of California cut its contribution to SSI grants down to the minimum amount allowed by the federal government and stopped automatically adjusting for inflation. The maximum individual benefit now stands at less than 90% of the federal poverty line.

After nearly a decade without meaningful restorations to this program, the 2018-19 budget finally lifts the ban on CalFresh and reinstates annual cost-of-living adjustments. Although the base grants still need to be brought up above the poverty line, the addition of CalFresh benefits will have an enormous impact for the 1.3 million Californians on SSI.

“So many SSI recipients try to apply for CalFresh because they just can’t afford food on their fixed incomes,” says Lidia Gutierrez, CalFresh Outreach Coordinator at the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. “But I always have to tell them, ‘no you aren’t eligible.’ These are our elders and people with disabilities and they are hungry.”

The state estimates that a single adult on SSI will likely qualify for $171 a month in CalFresh benefits.

“To get CalFresh means that I would have enough to actually make it through the month,” says Edward Williams, a 77-year-old Richmond resident who receives SSI. “I would have more money to buy simple things, like laundry detergent, that I normally wouldn’t have enough money for because I would need to use that money for food.”

With the current CalFresh ban still in place, most SSI recipients turn to community-based organizations like food banks just to survive. Nearly 1 in 4 households served by the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano includes an SSI recipient.

Janet Ternes, a 70-year-old SSI recipient from San Pablo, relies on the Food Bank’s Senior Food Program to stretch her limited budget. “They give me vegetables and canned foods and dried foods [at the Food Bank,] and I can only afford to go to Grocery Outlet for the rest. If it wasn’t for the Food Bank, I don’t know what I’d do,” she says.

The new state budget also provides food banks with $8 million to purchase California-grown foods and another $5.5 million to support distribution capacity by investing in trucks, refrigerators, and other infrastructure. Because CalFresh benefits won’t be available to SSI recipients for about a year, due to necessary administrative preparations, the $13.5 million designated for California food banks will help meet SSI recipients’ food needs in the meantime. Food bank distributions are open to anyone in need, but SSI recipients in particular will benefit from this investment since so many rely on food banks as their primary source of food.

Finally, because a monthly income of $910.72 doesn’t even come close to the cost of a market-rate studio apartment in the Bay Area, this budget will provide additional relief to some SSI recipients through $500 million in grants for California cities to address homelessness.

On the whole, this budget takes significant steps to address the urgent poverty SSI recipients experience in California. The state still needs to restore the cuts to the base grant so people can meet their basic needs, like housing and medicine, but at least hunger will be less of a constant threat. We commend the legislature and Governor Brown for passing a budget that both saves for a future rainy day and offers an umbrella to those for whom it is already raining.

Innovative Program Gives Hunger a Voice

June 4, 2018 By Guest

To support grassroots solutions to hunger, the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano has piloted the Speaker Series. This advocacy-training program for community members with lived experiences of hunger is designed to lift up the voices of real people facing hunger issues so they can become agents for change in their community.

The Food Bank‘s inaugural Speaker Series kicked off in 2017 with the Vallejo-based food pantry Faith Food Fridays and Toastmasters International. This year the Food Bank and Toastmasters co-hosted the Speaker Series with the financial services nonprofit SparkPoint Contra Costa in Bay Point.

The 3-month program consists of weekly workshops on public speaking, advocacy, and civic engagement. The participants come together to share their stories of hunger and build a community of hunger fighters.

Patricia Romero-Aguasvivas, a graduate from the first Speaker Series class, returned as a facilitator and encouraged others to speak out against hunger. “I decided to come back because after participating in last year’s series, I had a real feeling of empowerment,” she said. “I felt confident in talking about something that is so personal to me…and advocating towards ending hunger.”

Graduates from both Speaker Series attended Hunger Action Day in May in Sacramento to put their advocacy skills to work. Participants met face-to-face with their state elected officials, shared their personal stories of hunger and called for the passage of public policies that support food access and economic security.

Community members and elected officials attending June’s release of the Food Bank’s Hunger Study results also heard from some of the graduates of the Speaker Series as they described what it’s really like to be food insecure.

“It’s more powerful for an elected official to hear directly from those who are personally affected by hunger and poverty,” said Mary Ann Buggs, Advocacy & Community Engagement Coordinator at the Food Bank. “It puts a face on the issues. That’s what these graduates are able to accomplish.”

This year’s graduating class more than tripled in size, growing from 4 to 14! Jesse Alvarez, a senior and disabled veteran from Antioch who graduated from this year’s Speaker Series wants to see the program continue to grow. “It helped me to be confident in myself, fine tune my speaking skills, and become a positive influence in all aspects of life,” he said. “I am a proud advocate against hunger.”

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