Agenda

Back to Calendar Return

FAMILY AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE

Meeting Date:	12/03/2018
Subject: SNAP/CalFresh (Food Stamp) Program Follow-up Report
Submitted For:	Kathy Gallagher
Department:	Employment & Human Services
Referral No.:	FHS #103
Referral Name:	SNAP/CalFresh (Food Stamp) Program
Presenter:	Kathy Gallagher	Contact:	Wendy Therrian, Director, Workforce Svcs Bureau

Information

Referral History:

The SNAP Program was originally referred to the Family and Human Services Committee by the Board or Supervisors on February 15, 2011. This program was formerly known as Food Stamps and is currently known as the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In California, the name of the program is CalFresh.

On September 24, 2018, Workforce Services Director Wendy Therrian presented the annual status report to the FHS Committee. Wendy reported that applications increased by 121% over a ten year period but that that CalFresh applications and disbursements decreased this year from last year likely due to higher employment. She highlighted her concern about the Federal Administration's forthcoming guidelines that will restrict eligibility for cash aid and permanent housing to permanent residents.

Supervisor Gioia observed that we are at nearly a 20% poverty level and that Devorah Levine has done work to apply what the definition of poverty level is for Contra Costa County. The Committee requested information on how this is affecting Contra Costa County specifically.

Supervisor Gioia asked why usage has decreased and what staff are doing to address the different reasons (other than unemployment decreasing) for the decrease. He suggested greater outreach. Staff advised that they conduct cross-sector outreach through Meals on Wheels packets, for example, but are always battling stigma.

Lisa Arnold spoke during the public comment period about the need to close the gap between jail release and cash aid receipt, saying it can take as long as two weeks. She suggested that the Medi-Cal application be initiated while a person is still incarcerated so he/she does not come out desperate and the re-offend. Staff verified that they work with parolee entities and Rubicon center on this.. Supervisor Andersen suggested that staff network with the Office of Re-entry and Justice to obtain information about jail inmates who are preparing to emancipate.

Mariana Moore offered three recommendations from the CalFresh Partnership in pertinence to the long wait times experienced by clients in County offices and call centers, which she attributed to a lack of frontline staff in County offices:

Lift the hiring freeze on the Workforce Services Bureau so they can hire more frontline CalFresh staff.

Commit any augmented allocation this year to fund additional front line staff so that people can receive the customer service they need to navigate the benefits process.

In reference to customer service, access to benefits, and fighting hunger, create transparency about where the resources for the CalFresh allocation are being used within the County to ensure that the best use of taxpayer dollars. To do so, engage an independent contractor to conduct an impartial analysis of how CalFresh and other public benefits administrative dollars are allocated, and share the results with the public.

The Committee requested that these recommendations be forwarded to Kathy Gallagher for response and scheduled as the first item of discussion at a future FHS Committee meeting.

Referral Update:

Please see attached report from EHS Director Kathy Gallagher that discusses the CalFresh Partnership recommendations.

Recommendation(s)/Next Step(s):

ACCEPT follow-up report from the Employment and Human Services Director in response to CalFresh Partnership recommendations pertaining to wait times experienced by CalFresh clients.

Attachments
Follow-up EHSD Report on Sept 24 CalFresh Partnership Recommendations