CalFresh Program reaches more people, easier to use during COVID-19 pandemic

San Diego CA— May is CalFresh Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness of the cornerstone of our food assistance network and a model for successful public assistance: CalFresh also known as SNAP or Food Stamps.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated an economic shutdown, food insecurity across the nation has skyrocketed. Food banks, pantries, schools, and WIC agencies are rising to heroic levels to meet an increase in demand for food assistance, however, our best tool for fighting hunger remains CalFresh.
State and federal governments have passed policy changes and legislation in quick succession to make accessing CalFresh easier and more streamlined, and to increase benefits to a meaningful level for households with low incomes. These changes to the CalFresh program include:

• CalFresh EBT cards may be used to purchase groceries online through Amazon and Walmart as of 4/28/2020.
• The majority of application interviews have been waived.
• Eligibility redetermination (keeping benefits) has been waived through May.
• Benefit amounts have been increased for everyone to the maximum allowable based on household size through May. This can be the difference between $16 and $194 for a single individual.

With CalFresh benefits able to be used at grocery stores, farmers markets, and online, the program provides dignified options for families experiencing food insecurity for the first time. These options also allow recipients to more easily observe recommended social distancing and home isolation.

CalFresh during COVID-19

The current demand for CalFresh is significantly higher than normal. Online applications through GetCalFresh.org increased 300% when the Coronavirus lockdown began in California. Of that 300%, roughly 60% of applicants have never applied for CalFresh before. Local nonprofit organizations are working hard to meet the challenge of increased application volume. There are three ways to apply:

1. Online through GetCalFresh.org
2. Over the phone by dialing 2-1-1
3. With a local nonprofit assistor: sdhunger.org/calfresh-assistance

More information about CalFresh during the COVID-19 pandemic is available at sdhunger.org/covid19.

The Importance of CalFresh

• For every 1 meal provided by private philanthropy, 9 are provided by federal food assistance programs.
• CalFresh accounts for 57% of all food assistance in San Diego County
• A household of 4 receives up to $646/mo in CalFresh Benefits.
  • This translates to roughly 202 meals
  • In comparison, that same household gets one 30-pound box from a food bank, or roughly 17 meals/mo.

For more information, click [button color=”gray” size=”small” link=”http://www.osidenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/covid-19_calfresh.pdf” target=”blank” ]Here[/button]