Alameda County buffers against SNAP cuts with $10 million infusion

Days before Alameda County residents are set to lose federal food assistance the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved million to local food banks and food assistance programs on Tuesday With no end in sight to the federal administration shutdown that has precipitated what food bank leaders called an crisis at Tuesday s meeting Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Initiative SNAP benefits running out on Nov while federal employees remain furloughed the county s funding is considered critical for food assistance organizations The outlook is unpleasant right now It is going to be a challenge that we re getting through but I would also add that this is what food banks are built for revealed Michael Altfest communications director for Alameda County Region Food Bank What it s going to require is aid So the fact that the county is recognizing this and really believes food is a basic human right shows they re doing what they can The Board of Supervisors approved million in Measure W funds for Alameda County Region Food Bank and million for Meals on Wheels and their partners in addition to to promotion services for the disabled population and for staffing at Immigration and Refugee Services Measure W was initially passed by voters in to fund homelessness and housing but the Board of Supervisors voted this year to use a portion of fund to combat federal cuts to services In total the county has appropriated million for food assistance this year Food assistance programs have faced increased demand in newest years Altfest announced Approximately one in four Alameda County residents face food insecurity according to the Alameda County Neighborhood Food Bank The Republican budget bill HR cut million in funding to Alameda County and raised eligibility requirements for SNAP beneficiaries which is administered in California as CalFresh Altfest mentioned that Alameda County District Food Bank estimated the SNAP cuts would upshot in an additional to individuals seeking food assistance on top of the current individuals who rely on the food bank daily The situation became more dire last week as the Department of Agriculture posted a notice stating the agency would not extend SNAP benefits on Nov blaming Democrats for the ongoing regime shutdown Alameda County Supervisor Nikki Foruntato Bas stated the county was meeting the moment as the Trump administration cuts programs aimed at the county s greater part vulnerable She described the Trump administration s decision to cut to food assistance as unnecessary and cruel Food is a human right and it s altogether unacceptable for people to go hungry Fortunato Bas stated She disclosed the new funding will help us ramp up and purchase more food and get it out to people Kim Olson the director of advocacy for SOS Meals on Wheels in Alameda County noted the end to SNAP benefits is a unique challenge for the group s elderly clients who may not be able to wait in line at food banks and require daily meal deliveries The average age of Meals on Wheels clients is years old she explained and multiple are at-risk of not meeting their caloric and protein requirements without food delivery Our folks can t go to a traditional food pantry A lot of them even if they could get food wouldn t be able to cook food at home for themselves mentioned Kim Olson the director of advocacy for SOS Meals on Wheels Our clients rely on SNAP and Physiological so our meals to them are going to be that much more crucial The county s million influx has helped relieve various of the fear for food-insecure clients Olson mentioned particularly among the county s elderly Altfest remains optimistic that rising food insecurity in Alameda County could turn around swiftly noting that the Senate could decide to reopen the cabinet any day by passing a establishment spending bill that would restart SNAP benefits Still he reported the food bank s perseverance through past crises had readied it for the current urgency The fact that we did go through the shutdown in definitely helped with our COVID response in The fact that we ve done the COVID response in helped us for what we re going through now Altfest mentioned It is not going to be an easy time but I am also hopeful being in a food bank like this and seeing what we re prepared for that we can get our neighborhood through this