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Calaveras officials, nonprofits scramble after SNAP interruption affecting about 6,300 residents
Summary
County health officials told the Board Nov. 4 that a federal shutdown disrupted SNAP benefits for roughly 6,352 Calaveras residents; county staff and local nonprofits described surging demand and urged board action on short‑term funding while federal disbursements are resolved.
Marcus Munoz, Calaveras County director of Health and Human Services, told the Board of Supervisors on Nov. 4 that a federal government shutdown and subsequent USDA issuance plan interrupted CalFresh (SNAP) benefits, affecting an estimated 6,352 county residents. Munoz said the county issued about $1.2 million in benefits for October and that a federal court order required USDA to issue benefits; USDA instead partially distributed benefits using an issuance table, which could delay full access as system changes are required.
Munoz said state systems (CDSS) and county consortia expect it may take about one to three weeks for benefits to appear on recipients’ cards once federal funds are available and urged the least‑disruptive distribution method (a flat percentage) to reduce delays. He said HHSA is exploring internal reallocation and community partnerships to address near‑term food insecurity and recommended residents seek assistance from local food banks while systems are resolved.
Representatives of local nonprofits told the board demand already has spiked. Ayesha Williamson of Sierra Hope said the group’s Angels Camp pantry is turning away people during some distributions and reported a recent instance of about 50 people seeking help in a single week. Sierra Hope said it serves about 100 clients through a grocery‑card program for HIV/AIDS clients and averages about 56 households per pantry event; many served are over 55 or medically fragile. Williamson asked businesses, schools and residents to donate food or money and offered the pantry’s address (473 S. Main St., Angels Camp) and a QR code for monetary contributions.
During general public comment, Danielle Maxwell (a District 3 resident) described delays and service gaps for children and adults with developmental disabilities and asked the county to follow up on outstanding casework. The board discussed short‑term options: Supervisor members asked staff to bring back a proposal (targeted around Nov. 25) to consider contributions from supervisor contingency funds and possible use of county emergency funding to support a distributed set of local food banks and organizations (Resource Connection, Sierra Hope and others). County staff noted that partial SNAP payments were expected for the month but that full resolution could take weeks.
The board earlier approved a small, immediate allocation item: the board approved $2,000 each from Districts 3 and 4 to Bret Harte High School Food Pantry and Sierra Hope Food Pantry as part of Item 6; supervisors described that as a modest but meaningful near‑term step. Board members asked staff to return with options that could include coordinated food and limited utility assistance, recognizing utility programs commonly rely on separate funding streams.
Next steps: staff will prepare a recommendation for the board on coordinating county assistance and possible emergency funding allocations to multiple food‑security providers; the board indicated willingness to act quickly if the SNAP pause continues.
