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Ventura County food bank warns SNAP cuts will swell need, says immigrant fear is reducing access
Summary
FoodShare Ventura County told a joint Assembly–Senate hearing that federal cuts to SNAP and other programs will increase demand at food banks; the agency also described a drop in pantry attendance among immigrant clients who fear immigration enforcement.
Monica White, president and CEO of FoodShare Ventura County, told a joint select committee hearing that federal changes to safety‑net policy and freezes in commodity shipments have produced immediate operational shortfalls and rising community need.
FoodShare, which White said has served about 250,000 individuals in the last year, delivers emergency food across Ventura County. White told lawmakers that “the passage of HR 1 represents the most severe cuts to our safety net programs in history,” and said witnesses expect the federal changes to reduce CalFresh and Medicaid resources and increase reliance on food banks.
Key figures and impacts cited by FoodShare - Caseload: White said FoodShare served roughly 250,000 people last year, about one in four Ventura County residents they serve. - Budget and federal share: White said FoodShare receives “about 25% of the food of our food from federal government, along with 10% of our $9,000,000 annual budget.” - Lost supply: White described a recent USDA cancellation that cut eight truckloads of commodities, forcing FoodShare to replace about 200,000 pounds of food at a cost she estimated at $400,000; the agency said it reduced some services to unhoused clients to cover the loss.
White also described how immigration‑related fears have reduced pantry attendance in immigrant‑rich neighborhoods. “Families tell us they're afraid to show up, worried that waiting in line for food could target them and lead to family separation,” she said, and described efforts to reduce that risk by offering drive‑through distributions where clients can remain in their vehicles.
Policy asks and local response White and other panelists urged state leaders to use publicity and local outreach to sustain donor and volunteer support as federal assistance shifts. She also supported broader recommendations from nonprofit finance experts at the hearing: expanded advanced payments, prompt payment for contracts, and better indirect‑cost reimbursement to prevent nonprofits from having to borrow to operate.
No formal action was taken; lawmakers asked for follow-up on federal impacts and whether state pilots could shore up supply and payment timing.
