Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Food Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves targeted food distribution pilot to blunt CalFresh redeterminations
Summary
The board approved a pilot to fund targeted food distributions, benefit enrollment and home delivery in the 16 highest‑impact ZIP codes to mitigate the early impacts of federal CalFresh redeterminations (HR1); food banks and community partners will be primary implementers.
The Board of Supervisors on June 24 approved a targeted food distribution pilot aimed at mitigating the immediate impacts of federal CalFresh redetermination rules, which county staff and community partners said could place tens of thousands of residents at risk of losing benefits. Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Step moved the proposal; Feeding San Diego and the county’s major food bank testified that demand has already spiked.
What the pilot does: The board authorized a package of actions through the county’s Safety Net Bridge program — partner food distribution events at strategically chosen county facilities, on‑site CalFresh enrollment assistance, home‑delivery for people with mobility barriers, and a flexible $500,000 allocation to fill distribution gaps and support partner capacity. Priority ZIP codes were selected based on county data and food‑bank metrics; staff will coordinate with district offices to ensure on‑the‑ground outreach and avoid gaps (for example, questions were raised about 91950/National City and unincorporated areas that share city ZIP codes).
Partners and funding: Feeding San Diego and the Jacobs & Cushman Food Bank provided data showing increased food bank requests; the board asked staff to coordinate with partners to target distributions and to report back on utilization and outcomes.
Board action: The motion passed unanimously. Supervisors asked staff to retain flexibility in implementation and to work with district offices to ensure distribution sites serve the highest‑need neighborhoods and to explore delivery and facility options where needed.
Why it matters: County officials emphasized the pilot is a proactive step to prevent acute food insecurity during an anticipated phase of benefit redeterminations and to stabilize households at risk while longer‑term solutions are pursued.
Next steps: Staff will implement the pilot, coordinate closely with partner food banks and community organizations, and monitor results. The board directed staff to refine ZIP‑code targeting and to report back with operational metrics.
