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Supervisors warn of possible CalFresh/EBT disruptions tied to federal shutdown; county urges residents to call 2-1-1
Summary
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told the Board that CalFresh benefits for November may be delayed because of the federal government shutdown, noting $62 million in monthly benefits and urging residents to call 2-1-1 and use local food banks for emergency support.
Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento told the Board that the County's social services agency has been informed of potential delays to CalFresh (SNAP) benefits tied to a federal shutdown and that it could be difficult to load EBT cards for November. "On average, our county social service agency issues about $62,000,000 in CalFresh benefits each month, and the average family receives about $433," he said.
Sarmiento said about 85,000 residents in his district rely on CalFresh and urged anyone affected to call 2-1-1 and to check county links to food banks and pantries for interim help. Vice Chair Katrina Foley echoed the warning and added district-level numbers, saying "In District 5, it's 35,000 residents" and that nearly 15,000 of those are seniors.
Foley urged county staff to send a flyer and coordinate workplace food drives to help food banks, and asked the CEO to circulate a call to action. Supervisors said they would have their offices provide information and that staff would coordinate resources if the federal disruption persists.
No formal county action (budget appropriation or emergency declaration) was adopted at the meeting; officials provided contact points and suggested local mitigation steps.
