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Food banks, public health and local food programs urge county to fund a coordinated food‑security plan to blunt SNAP cuts
Summary
Alameda County food‑system leaders warned that SNAP and other cuts in HR1 would produce a local hunger crisis and urged the county to fund an integrated food security plan — including a food hub network, prepared meals for seniors and expanded 'food as medicine' programs.
Leaders of the Alameda County Community Food Bank, county public health and local food programs told supervisors the county must act now to prevent a hunger crisis if federal SNAP changes proposed in HR1 proceed.
Lisonbee Pratt (Head of Strategy, Alameda County Community Food Bank) said 179,000 county residents receive SNAP and that HR1’s combination of stricter work requirements, time limits and administrative changes would reduce benefits and eligibility over a decade. Pratt estimated that expanded time limits alone could threaten benefits for roughly 19,000 people in Alameda County and that the initial local impact of expanded work/time rules could be tens of millions of dollars.
Public health and clinical programs offered solutions already in development: Dr. George Ayala (Alameda County Public Health) called food insecurity a primary driver of chronic disease and noted a $1.5 million cut to SNAP‑Ed would eliminate nutrition education, farmers market vouchers and senior programs in December unless replaced. Dr. Steven Chen (Recipe for Health) described a food‑as‑medicine model delivering nutrient‑dense produce from local regenerative farms, reporting improved clinical outcomes, food security and reduced ER visits among participants.
Oakland Thrives recommended creating a countywide food security plan administered through a single coordinating body (the food bank was proposed) and a network of local food hubs to increase purchasing power, share refrigerated transport and reduce duplication. The group estimated an initial planning/coordinator budget of roughly $1.5 million to stand up a network and said philanthropy has shown early interest.
Supervisors asked staff to consider how Measure W and the essential county services fund could be prioritized to shore up immediate needs while designing a durable, countywide system that leverages community partners and philanthropy.
Next steps: Agencies offered to provide more precise cost‑per‑meal calculations, partnerships with school districts and philanthropic matching strategies; committee materials will be forwarded to the full Board for consideration of funding options.
