TO: Board of Supervisors
FROM: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
REPORT BY: Jennifer Yasumoto, Director of Health and Human Services Agency
SUBJECT: Resolution Authorizing the Director of Health and Human Services Agency to Enter into a Contract with Napa Valley Community Foundation for the Provision of Emergency Food Assistance
RECOMMENDATION
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Adopt a Resolution to temporarily suspend the County's approved Budget Policy Guidelines and allow for a partial backfill of a food assistance program for qualified CalFresh recipients; authorize Director of Health and Human Services Agency to sign an agreement with Napa Valley Community Foundation to provide emergency food assistance for up to $500,000 per month for two months through December 31, 2025 unless State or Federal funding is restored; and approve a related Budget Amendment. (Fiscal Impact: $1,000,000 Expense; General Fund-Tobacco Settlement; Not Budgeted; Discretionary)
[4/5 vote required]
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BACKGROUND
States have been notified of impending disruption to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits - known as CalFresh in California - effective, Saturday November 1. This crisis stands to impact millions of Americans and over 5.5 million low-income Californians who will be cut off from these benefits. Each month California issues approximately $1.1 billion in federal CalFresh benefits to eligible residents to purchase food. The CalFresh program is one of California's largest social safety net programs and is regarded as one of the most effective tools to combat poverty and food insecurity.
In Napa County, approximately 6,600 households and 10,700 residents rely upon CalFresh benefits to feed themselves and their families and the total monthly distribution amounts to approximately $1.9 million. Being cut off from these benefits leaves Napa County households and residents - over 60% of whom are children and older adults - without the ability to purchase food...
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