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County officials: federal SNAP/CALFRESH benefits restored after shutdown; community groups urge urgent anti-hunger plan
Summary
County health staff reported full CalFresh/SNAP benefits were distributed beginning Nov. 7, and under the continuing resolution benefits will continue through the federal fiscal year; food-bank leaders and community groups urged the board to return with a coordinated hunger response and immediate support measures.
Solano County Health & Social Services told the Board of Supervisors that, following the recent federal government shutdown and subsequent court order, full CalFresh/SNAP benefits were distributed beginning Nov. 7 and that the continuing resolution signed by Congress will maintain SNAP issuance through the end of the federal fiscal year (currently cited as Sept. 30, 2026).
Alicia Jones, deputy director for Employment & Eligibility, said the department and partners notified clients of potential delays during the shutdown and then executed benefit issuance after the court order. County staff added that contingent reserves and the continuing resolution make issuance secure through the federal fiscal year under current federal guidance.
Local food providers, hospital staff and community organizers told the board the need remains acute. Brian Espinosa and Kim Castaneda of the Food Bank of Contra Costa & Solano described sharp increases in demand, including spikes in traffic to the food bank’s distribution map and a fourfold increase in website activity to find food distributions. Orlando Graham, who runs a neighborhood pantry, said distributions that served 30 families weekly had risen to as many as 250 families.
Board members asked for actionable next steps. Supervisor Mashburn and others directed staff to bring back a comprehensive item in December outlining existing county investments, vulnerabilities across clinics and shelter systems, options to fund food providers and a near-term plan to support people at risk of losing benefits after upcoming eligibility changes. County staff also noted existing ARPA investments in food‑security capacity and said they will explore a county volunteer program that could help impacted residents meet any reporting or volunteer-hour requirements that may affect continued benefit eligibility.
The board did not adopt an immediate funding measure at this meeting but directed staff to return with recommendations and a plan for coordination among county, cities and nonprofit partners.
