CalFresh Task Force Aims to Connect Hard to Reach Populations: College Students and Immigrant Families in 2017 Priorities

Low-income college students and immigrant families are the two food insecure populations the San Diego Hunger Coalition's CalFresh Task Force's is focused on connecting to the program in 2017.

The current administration’s stance on immigration has created fear and confusion among low-income immigrant families causing many to forgo accessing food assistance. Partners shared that immigrants (mixed status households and legal permanent residents) have expressed more concerns about CalFresh negatively impacting their immigration status. Together with our partners we are working to provide immigrant families and the public with accurate information and resources while also collaborating on ways to adapt and evolve programming to meet the needs of this portion of our community. At the Task Force’s regional meeting in May the Hunger Coalition welcomed David Loy, Legal Director for the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties and Itzel Guillen, Human Rights Organizer for Alliance San Diego who shared their expertise on the rights of immigrant families when it comes to accessing food assistance.

David Loy, Legal Director for the ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties presents on the rights of immigrant families and accessing food assistance at the May CalFresh Task Force regional meeting.

The Task Force's work with college students stems from recent state program updates clarifying and expanding college student CalFresh eligibility and from recent studies that indicate high prevalence of food insecurity among college students. A recent report from the University of Wisconsin shows that two thirds of community college students are food insecure.

The Task Force’s is also focused on improving the CalFresh application process. This year’s process priorities stem from challenges San Diego residents reported to local community partners while trying to access CalFresh benefits. These priorities aim to make the application process easier by improving two of the top three reasons why otherwise eligible applicants are denied benefits: the ability to complete the required CalFresh interview and the ability to easily submit necessary verification documents. After receiving in-depth feedback on these issues from the CalFresh Task Force partners, the Hunger Coalition is working closely with the San Diego County Health and Human Service Agency (HHSA) to identify opportunities to improve internal County processes to resolve the issues identified and further streamline the application process.

As the facilitator of the CalFresh Task Force, the Hunger Coalition will support work to outreach to college students and immigrant families by bringing organization representatives from these populations together with members of the Task Force and the County of San Diego HHSA to collaborate on ways to more effectively connect people in need to food assistance and to ensure these partners have a consistent understanding of eligibility regulations. By bringing external partners to the table with CalFresh application assistance agencies and County HHSA representatives, stronger partnerships with unique perspectives can develop. The Hunger Coalition provides support and expertise in external meetings to develop new or tailored strategies to meet the needs of specific populations. Once partnerships are established, organizations are invited to report back to the CalFresh Task Force regarding their progress, lessons learned and best practices.

At the end of the year, the Task Force will recap the progress made to provide direct application assistance to this year’s priority populations.

#MythbusterMonday - May 2017 Myths Busted

We begin each week using our online voice to debunk myths about hunger. Our #MythbusterMonday social media series dispels misinformation and stigma commonly associated with food assistance programs like CalFresh/SNAP and school meals and the people who rely on them to help put food on the table.  

What hunger myths have you heard? Join us in sharing the truth about hunger each Monday using #MythbusterMonday.

May was CalFresh Awareness Month so we dedicated each Monday to busting a myth related to CalFresh (also known as SNAP or Food Stamps) and the different people who depend on this program to get ahead in a time of need.

May 1

The first Monday of the month we take a look back at the myths busted the previous month. Check out the myths we busted in April 2017 here.

May 8

From May 8-12 we held our annual #CalFreshChallenge. Each year we challenge people who don't have to worry about having enough food to live on the average daily CalFresh/SNAP benefit per person in San Diego County which is now $4.18/day. We dedicated our social media posts this week to sharing about the #CalFreshChallenge and the valuable new appreciation gained from this lived experience. Click to see what people had to say about the #CalFreshChallenge on Facebook and Twitter. 

May 15

#MythbusterMonday "Homeless people aren't eligible for CalFresh/SNAP benefits because they don't have a permanent address." False! "You can qualify for benefits if you don't have an address or if you live at a shelter." Click here and see #1 to learn more.  

May 22
#MythbusterMonday "There is no hunger in the military." False! According to MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger every Marine and Naval base in the county (and possibly the Army and Air Force too) allow charities to host regular food distributions on base to help struggling active duty military families. Click here and see #5 to learn more, then sign our petition to tell Congress hunger among military families is unacceptable! 

May 29

#MythbusterMonday "Being hungry is just part of the post-adolescent college experience." False! Hunger on campus is a real problem. According to Feeding America 1 in 10 of the adults they serve are students. CalFresh can help. Click here to learn more. 

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Follow the San Diego Hunger Coalition on Facebook and Twitter. 

2017 #CalFreshChallenge - Cassandra's Challenge Experience

Each year, the San Diego Hunger Coalition challenges people who don't have to worry about food to live off of the average CalFresh (also known as SNAP or food stamps) benefit per person in San Diego County. The 2017 #CalFreshChallenge took place May 8-12 and participants lived on a food budget of $4.18 for one day or $20.92 for five days. This year, many of the Hunger Coalition's anti-hunger partners that work to enroll eligible people in need in the CalFresh program took part in the Challenge. Cassandra Reese, a CIRS Enrollment Specialist at 2-1-1 San Diego shares her #CalFreshChallenge experience below. 2-1-1 San Diego serves as a nexus to bring the community (organizations) together to help people efficiently access appropriate services, and provide vital data and trend information for proactive community planning.

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Grocery list

• Eggs (18) - $3
• Dry Beans 1 lb $ 1.75
• Cheese 1 lb $4
• Sour cream $1.98
• Cottage Cheese $2.98
• Peach cups $1.88
• Drink packs (10) $1.00
• Margarine $1.00
• Ritz crackers $1.98

Total 18.80

My Plan is to alternate between eggs and cottage cheese with fruit cups for breakfast. The Ritz came with four packs so this is my snack for the entire of week

I had planned to have backed potatoes with sour cream for dinner, but that won’t happen unless I can find a bag of potatoes for under $2 because that’s all I have left in the budget.

The red beans will be lunch for the week. I was going to put it in tortilla for bean and cheese burritos. So I’ll either chose between the potatoes or tortillas with the remaining budget.

Day 1  Upbeat & ready to go

• Breakfast - 3 hard boiled eggs
• Lunch - red beans w/ cheese slices
• Snack - Ritz crackers
• Dinner - will also be red beans
• Drink  - 1 peach tea packet w/ water

Day 2 The hardest day

I was soooooooooo hungry!!! I didn’t plan my meals or snacks well enough to prevent or get through the hunger. I was so hungry that I ate through over half of the snack (crackers) that I had bought to last the entire week. It made me wonder if families in need also run into this dilemma and use up most of their CalFresh benefits or the food they bought for the month in the first few days/weeks and then struggle to have enough food to sustain them through the rest of the month.

After I shared with my coworkers my day one experience, including my grocery list and my remaining budget, a couple of them suggested that I go to the 99 Cent Only store.  Since, I only had $2.10 left in my overall budget I decided to go to see what they had available.

To my surprise the 99 Cent Only store not only had everything I had bought Day 1 at Walmart, but also for more than half the price. If I had only gone to this store first I would’ve been able to get DOUBLE the food and snacks to last me throughout the week. I would have also been able to get fruits, veggies, and more.  So with my remaining $2 I bought tortillas and an extra snack to last me the rest of the week.

Day 3 The Day of Temptations

Still hungry but not constant cravings like Day 2. Today’s challenge was temptations throughout the day. The first hour of work I was offered donuts and coffee. Then on my way to my break I was offered candy. At lunch, in the break room there were free sandwiches and the most beautiful looking spinach, cranberry, feta cheese salad with balsamic dressing. My resolved almost faltered after seeing the salad. Later,  a coworker decided to sit a bag of chips on my desk when I went to the printer. When I came back I took the bag of chips back to their desk.

After work, when I went to pick up my daughter my mom gave me a tray of pastries to take to my daughter's class the next day for teacher appreciation day.

TEMPTATIONS, TEMPTATIONS, AND MORE TEMPTATIONS

While preparing dinner I was presented with another moment of understanding. I started to make my dinner when I saw that I was running very low on all the food I’d bought. So I started to worry and ration the portions of how much I could eat and still have enough left for the last two days.

Day 4 Almost there

The home stretch is here and still hungry but not as much.

Day 5 FINISH LINE

I MADE IT……HOORAY!!!!!.........BUT still hungry!

I am happy and yet disheartened all at the same time. Happy because I was successful at completing the challenge and my awareness of hunger is more prevalent than it has ever been.  But disheartened because I know families on CalFresh don’t have the ability or option to go back to spending whatever they chose on meals and their struggle to provide food for their families is ongoing. The poverty and working poor gap is widening everyday while benefits are diminishing. Under the current administration, the state of these much needed benefits are hanging in the balance. I wish the San Diego Hunger Coalition much success and support in your daily efforts to bring about hunger awareness and funding for your MISSION TO END HUNGER.

#MythbusterMonday - April 2017 Myths Busted

We begin each week using our online voice to debunk myths about hunger. Our #MythbusterMonday social media series overturns misinformation and stigma commonly associated with food assistance programs like CalFresh/SNAP and school meals and the people who rely on them to help put food on the table.  

What hunger myths have you heard? Join us in sharing the truth about hunger each Monday using #MythbusterMonday.

In April we busted the following hunger myths:

April 10

#MythbusterMonday "SNAP recipients use their benefits to buy alcohol and cigarettes." False! These items cannot be purchased with SNAP. Click here to find out what items are eligible.

April 17

#MythbusterMonday “SNAP investments have no long-term payoffs.” False! Access to the Food Stamp Program at early ages—starting before birth in cases where the mother received food stamps during pregnancy, and continuing through age five—leads to many positive long-run health and economic outcomes. See fact #8 here. 

April 24 

#MythbusterMonday “People on SNAP sell their EBT cards for cash.” False! EBT cards were designed to prevent this. “With EBT, you can’t just sell the card -- you’d also have to give the buyer your PIN number. And you’d have to trust they were going to bring the card back to you” says economist Craig Gundersen who has researched food stamps for 20 + years. Click on the here to learn more. 

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Follow the San Diego Hunger Coalition on Facebook and Twitter - @SDHungerCo. 

We're a Proud Partner of the #MarchForScience!

The San Diego Hunger Coalition is proud to partner with the March for Science taking place nationwide and here in San Diego on April 22. We rely on science every day in our work to end hunger in our San Diego County through research and evidence-based programs and policy. Our region is home to nearly 500,000 people who are food insecure, meaning they don’t have enough to eat for an active, healthy life. Of these people, nearly 1/3 are children. Without science, we would not know which populations need food assistance, and what are the most effective ways to reach them.

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Ways we use science to fight hunger

• We use data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s annual American Community Survey to learn about poverty and federal nutrition program eligibility in San Diego County. Finding out how conditions are changing in our communities helps us to plan and advocate for the needs of people struggling to put food on the table.
   
• We partnered with the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Health Policy Research to analyze their 2014 and 2015 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data to develop the most current and accurate food insecurity rates for San Diego County. In doing so, we can provide an in-depth look at the landscape of hunger and hunger relief services to better understand the types of food assistance available, current gaps and underutilized funding opportunities. 
   
• We worked to integrate food insecurity screenings into healthcare settings in San Diego County by coordinating Rx for CalFresh pilots across six unique healthcare settings and developing a food security and healthcare curriculum in partnership with UC San Diego School of Medicine. Today, healthcare professionals are better equipped to screen for food insecurity and connect people to CalFresh (California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as “food stamps”), one of our nation’s most effective anti-hunger programs.
   
• We use data and research provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to better understand food insecurity throughout the nation and the impacts of federal nutrition programs, such as SNAP and WIC.
   
• We incorporate data in our advocacy work and meetings with policymakers at the state and federal levels to protect government assistance programs like CalFresh and School Meals. In 2016, our Hunger Advocacy Network secured success for key bills and budget asks to ensure that all people in San Diego have access to enough food for an active, healthy life. 
   
• We use data from the California Department of Education to estimate participation rates in school meal programs at every school district in San Diego County. This lets us identify what’s working and innovative opportunities to feed more children like breakfast in the classroom.
   
• We analyze data from the CalFresh program to find opportunities to support our CalFresh Task Force’s work to increase efficiency and effectiveness so all eligible people in need can enroll in the program.
   
• We share data and learnings with our partners so they can more effectively fulfill their own missions and serve as many hungry people as possible.

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We use science to measure our impact and identify places to course correct when needed. It allows our work to be efficient, grounded, fundable, and ultimately truly effective. Join us in supporting science on April 22 and register for the San Diego #MarchforScience here. Registering allows the march organizers to update the march logistics and programming as well as keep track of overall attendance and collect basic, useful information on who is attending so they can tell the story about this march when it is over.

Join the March for Science San Diego's Facebook event page to get the latest information and resources leading up to and after the march.

Unable to attend the #MarchonScience? Donate to support the costs for day-of-logistics, technology, outreach and operations for the march.  

To directly support the San Diego Hunger Coalition's work to end hunger in San Diego County donate here.

Save the Dates! Our CalFresh Challenge is right around the corner - May 8 - 12

Our analysis indicates that nearly 500,000 people in San Diego County do not have enough food for a healthy, active life. Our annual CalFresh Challenge helps raise awareness and money to end hunger in our community. For one day or up to 5 days, we encourage people who don’t have to worry about not having enough food to try living on a food stamps budget. In San Diego County, the average CalFresh budget for one person is $4.18 per day or $20.92 for 5 days.

How to participate:

1. Register for the Challenge
Let us know you’re participating by registering, even for the 1-day challenge! The more people who sign up, the more attention this cause will receive. Participants can take the CalFresh Challenge for 1 day or 5 days between Monday, May 8 and Friday, May 12. After registering, participants will be sent the challenge guidelines and tips for meal planning on an extremely limited budget. Register here.

2. Stick to the budget and share your experience
During the CalFresh Challenge, your entire grocery budget will be $4.18 for 1 day or $20.92 for 5 days including all meals, beverages and snacks. This is the average food stamps benefit per person in San Diego County. Participants are encouraged to share their experience on social media using #CalFreshChallenge. Review the Challenge guidelines.

3. Fundraise and win prizes
Make an even greater impact in the fight against hunger by raising money between May 1-15 to support the work of our CalFresh Task Force to make sure all eligible people in need are able to enroll in the program. This year, participants who raise $100 or more will receive a free San Diego Hunger Coalition tote bag – a small token of our appreciation for your support. Top fundraisers will receive prize packs of gifts from our generous community partners. Create your fundraising page.

4. Celebrate Your Accomplishment and Support a Good Cause!
Come mingle with staff, partners and friends of the San Diego Hunger Coalition and celebrate this year's CalFresh Challenge participants and top fundraisers at Benchmark Brewing Company (6190 Fairmount Ave. Suite G.) on Thursday, May 25th from 5:30-7:30 pm. In support of CalFresh Awareness Month, Benchmark Brewing Company is selling 16 oz. pours of their Table Beer for $4.18 every Sunday in May! The Table Beer will also be available at this special price during the happy hour on May 25th. 

Happy Hour at Benchmark Brewing Company
Thursday, May 25
5:30 - 7:30 pm
6190 Fairmount Ave. Suite G.
San Diego, CA 92120

You can read about last year’s challenge and hear from participants about living on an extremely low food budget on our CalFresh Challenge blog.

Rep. Susan Davis re-introduces Military Hunger Prevention Act to Congress

Rep. Susan Davis meets with a constituent at an anti-hunger event. 

Military families face unique barriers to food assistance. They receive a basic allowance for housing which is determined by where they are stationed, among other factors. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, the agency that administers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (the modern version of food stamps known as CalFresh in California) and sets eligibility requirements considers this allowance part of their income. The IRS and several federal assistance programs do not consider military housing allowances as income. This red tape and confusion around what consists as income leaves tens of thousands of San Diego’s military families struggling to put food on the table because they are not eligible for CalFresh.

Last month Representative Susan Davis (D-San Diego) re-introduced the Military Hunger Prevent Act (H.R.1048) to Congress to make accessing food assistance easier for service members and their families. This bill would prevent military housing allowances from being used to determine eligibility for SNAP. Rep. Davis was joined by Representatives Lynn Jenkins (R-KS), Jim McGovern (D-MA), Don Young (R-AK), and Tim Walz (D-MN) as cosponsors of the legislation.

A senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Davis stated in a press release, “Those who make great personal sacrifices in service to our country should not have to struggle to provide regular, nutritious meals for their families. Unfortunately, an unintended policy barrier prevents military families struggling with food insecurity from getting help from available federal nutrition assistance programs. This is a simple, common sense solution to ensuring that we properly care for our men and women in uniform and their families.”

According to Feeding America’s 2014 Hunger in America report, one in five of the households served by their networks has at least one member that has ever served in the military. Making it easier for military members to access CalFresh provides a reliable source for nutritious food and a greater sense of dignity by allowing enrolled families to shop for food at grocery stories instead of standing in line at emergency food service providers such as food banks or charity pantries on or near their military base.

The San Diego Hunger Coalition endorses the Military Prevention Act and the Hunger Advocacy Network will be tracking this bill this year. We’ll keep you updated on its progress. You can do your part to remove this barrier to food assistance for military families by making your voice heard. Sign our petition to tell Congress military families facing hunger is unacceptable! Sign the petition here.

#MythbusterMonday - March 2017 Myths Busted

We begin each week using our online voice to debunk myths about hunger. Our #MythbusterMonday social media series overturns misinformation and stigma commonly associated with food assistance programs like CalFresh/SNAP and school meals and the people who rely on them to help put food on the table.  

What hunger myths have you heard? Join us in sharing the truth about hunger each Monday using #MythbusterMonday.

In March we busted the following hunger myths:

March 6

#MythbusterMonday "No one can be hungry AND overweight.” False! People living in poverty can’t afford enough food and what they can afford – or what is available in their community – is often unhealthy and processed. See #4.

March 13

#MythbusterMonday "People don’t have enough food because they’re not working.” False! In San Diego County 53% of food insecure adults are employed, with nearly 43% working full-time (defined as 21+ hours/week) Learn more.

March 20

#MythbusterMonday "People receiving emergency food assistance need help because they have too many kids.” False! Most families seeking food assistance consist of 2-3 people, a mom and 1-2 of her kids. Only 3% of households on food assistance have more than 6 members. See #3. 

March 27

#MythbusterMonday “Federal child nutrition programs & CalFresh drain the system.” False! Youth who have access to food assistance in early childhood have better health outcomes as adults and are more likely be successful in school and employment.

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Follow the San Diego Hunger Coalition on Facebook and Twitter - @SDHungerCo. 

CalFresh Alumni Project - Tekara's Story

Our CalFresh Alumni project champions successful Americans who once received CalFresh/SNAP (food stamps) but who are now independent, contributing members of our community, as well as individuals who currently rely on the program during a time of need.  With a temporary lift from this government program that continues to help feed millions of Americans every day, these people are persevering and accomplishing great things. They make San Diego stronger every day.  Read their stories; tell us yours.

Meet Tekara Gainey. Tekara works in community engagement and public affairs for a San Diego nonprofit organization. Tekara shares her experience as a CalFresh/SNAP recipient and how it supported her journey to become the successful, independent woman she is today.

Tekara Gainey

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At what point in your life did you receive CalFresh/SNAP (food stamps) and why?

I’ve received SNAP at various junctures throughout my life. My earliest memory of SNAP is as a young kid growing up in a single-family household. I later relied on SNAP when I was putting myself through college, both in pursuit of my Bachelors as well as my Masters degrees.

How long were you on CalFresh/SNAP?

In total, I was on CalFresh/SNAP for 7 years.

How did CalFresh/SNAP help you in your time of need?

My mother was working full time and we relied on SNAP to help put food on our table. This was back when SNAP was issued as vouchers. I remember going to the corner store and using our vouchers to purchase basic food items like milk, eggs, and bread. As a student, SNAP helped to alleviate some of the burden associated with working, attending school and paying bills.

How did receiving food assistance make you feel?

Relieved. I was already under an immense amount of stress working and going to school full time, barely able to afford rent, transportation, books, phone bill…the list goes on. Knowing that my capability of putting good, healthy food on the table was not compromised offered a lot of relief. I didn’t have to choose between eating lunch or eating dinner. I could do both. It was one less thing, on a list of many things, I had to worry about.

What are some common misconceptions you have heard people use about CalFresh/SNAP?

I've heard many people claim CalFresh/SNAP is only available to families (adults with young children), persons who are unemployed or homeless individuals. I’ve also heard people say CalFresh/SNAP couldn’t or shouldn’t be used at well-known grocery stores such as Trader Joes or Whole Foods. When speaking about people receiving CalFresh/SNAP, I’ve heard people claim recipients are abusing the system, lack the drive and will to get off SNAP, and are underserving of nice things (i.e., bags, shoes, clothes, etc.). An acquaintance once told me she was surprised to learn I was receiving SNAP benefits because I seemed so “put together”. I guess I wasn’t supposed to comb my hair that day!

What are you most proud of in your life? Or what are your dreams for the future?

I am proud of the life I’ve created for myself. I live in a beautiful city, have a wonderful, supportive, and strong groups of friends and family, and I am doing work that I am passionate about and that is making an impact.  

What do you want people to know about food assistance programs like CalFresh/SNAP?

Food assistance programs like CalFresh/SNAP give people control over their lives and choices. During my time of need, prior to receiving food assistance, my choices were often made for me, based on my circumstances. Deciding whether I should spend $50 to purchase a work uniform or put aside money for lunch for the week was a no-brainer. If I wanted a job, I needed the uniform. Going 8-10 hours without eating because I couldn’t afford breakfast AND lunch was not my choice, but rather my circumstance. CalFresh/SNAP made me the ultimate decision maker again, just as it does with others.

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Our CalFresh Alumni Project features individuals who have used CalFresh in the past or are currently enrolled in the program and using it as temporary assistance to get ahead during a time of need. CalFresh is California's version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and is our nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. By telling the stories of those who have benefited from SNAP/CalFresh, we can more effectively raise awareness and advocate to maintain this vital program.

If you would like to take part in our CalFresh Alumni Project and share your experience with CalFresh/SNAP, contact Liz Faris at liz@sdhunger.org or 619-501-7917 ext. 106. Your story will be shared on our blog, in our newsletter, on our social media sites, and in communications with elected officials who have the power to preserve this important program. If you prefer, you may remain anonymous. Your story will still have a big impact!

Help Protect SNAP by Sharing Your Story!

Many of us have overcome barriers to get to where we are today, and this may have included not having enough food in the house. If you or your family ever received food stamps/SNAP (known as CalFresh in California), the San Diego Hunger Coalition wants to share your story to help make sure this vital program remains available for others during their times of need. The San Diego Hunger Coalition is a nonprofit that brings organizations across San Diego County together in the fight against hunger. We lead coordinated action supported by research, education and advocacy.

Former SNAP/CalFresh recipients include representatives in Congress, famous celebrities, professional athletes, CEO’s and community leaders at all levels. By telling the stories of those who have benefited from SNAP/CalFresh, we can more effectively raise awareness and advocate for important policies to end hunger.

SNAP is our nation’s most effective anti-hunger program. Locally, the majority of people receiving CalFresh get the temporary help they need and are on it for less than two years. An important part of the Hunger Coalition’s work includes reducing the myths and stigma around SNAP/CalFresh. These misconceptions affect policy, funding, how food assistance programs are administered, and whether people feel comfortable seeking the resources they need to help their families.

We make it easy for you to help change this by sharing your story as part of our CalFresh Alumni project.  We will send you a few interview questions you can respond to by email, over the phone or in person. We then write a brief blog post about your experience that will be shared on our website, newsletter, social media, and in communication with elected officials who have the power to preserve this important program. If you prefer, you can remain anonymous. Your story will still have a big impact!

If you are interested in sharing a little bit about how food stamps provided a bridge to where you are today, please contact the San Diego Hunger Coalition’s Communications Officer Liz Faris directly at liz@sdhunger.org or (619) 501-7917 ext. 106.

Food Security & Healthcare Convening

We're pioneering new ways for people to access CalFresh assistance - through their healthcare providers. On December 14th, more than 50 healthcare and food security stakeholders from across San Diego County gathered at the Price Charities Center to discuss best practices for screening and addressing food insecurity in patients.

Public Health Institute’s Holly Calhoun keynoted the Integrating Food Security into Healthcare Settings forum. She opened the session by illustrating the national landscape of innovative work already being done across the US.

Featured panelists from UCSD School of Medicine, Family Health Centers San Diego, Sharp Healthcare, Feeding San Diego, and 211 San Diego continued the conversation by describing their local efforts to identify and connect food insecure patients to CalFresh and food assistance. They highlighted how a provider's unique relationship with patients can ensure wellness through traditional healthcare as well as access to healthy food.

Forum participants were enthusiastic about the pilot programs' results. Many discussed how to strengthen evaluation measures to continue to capture data and learn from one another. Multiple healthcare organizations expressed interest in engaging in this work. See photos from the event here and read our research report, Launching Rx for CalFresh in San Diego County: Integrating Food Security in Healthcare Settings.

We look forward to continuing the conversation and collaborative work in 2017!

Nine ways we're breaking down barriers to CalFresh

A Year in Review: Changing Lives with CalFresh

As we look back on the past year, we’re motivated by everything we and our partners accomplished together to help our fellow San Diego residents access the food assistance they need.

Now, we’re sharing our favorite 2016 wins with you. Thanks to your support, we:

1. Led San Diego County to integrate food security resources like CalFresh into healthcare settings with Rx for CalFresh.
2. Trained 383 staff, volunteers and interns to provide CalFresh application assistance at 25 partner agencies across San Diego County.
3. Worked with CalFresh application assistance partners to help more than 10,000 households access nearly $17 million worth of food.
4. Helped more than 200 people access food assistance by resolving technical issues with their CalFresh applications.
5. Promoted CalFresh application assistance to college students through successful legislation (AB 1747 Weber).
6. Connected community college students with CalFresh applications assistance through five new partnerships.
7. Collaborated with senior-serving community organizations to engage more seniors in accessing CalFresh.
8. Streamlined the CalFresh application process by working with the County Health and Human Services Agency to expand programs like Same Day Service across the county.
9. Directed more than $200,000 to local nonprofits helping low-income individuals and families apply for CalFresh, as a contractor for the state CalFresh Outreach Program.

In 2017, it’s clear we have our work cut out for us. Our partners on the ground know how great the need for food assistance is, but the next administration has set its sights on dismantling and weakening programs like CalFresh. It will take all of us, raising our voices and telling our stories, to build on the progress we have made together.

We’re thankful for your contributions to make sure no one in San Diego County has to go hungry. This year, we look forward to working with you to continue making these stories heard. 

Congratulations to Our 2016 CalFresh Task Force Award Winners

The collaborative power of the CalFresh Task Force is fueled by the passion and innovation of its members.  The annual CalFresh Task Force Awards honor individuals and organizations making major strides toward ending hunger in San Diego County. Awardees are nominated and selected by Task Force members.

CalFresh Outreach Partner of the Year

The Enrollment Center Navigators at 2-1-1 San Diego

Can a team of four bring food to 1,083 households in need in less than a year? Yes, if they’re the CalFresh rockstars of the Enrollment Center Navigators at 2-1-1 San Diego. Not only did the Enrollment Center Navigators bring an ongoing benefit of $92,376 worth of food to San Diegans struggling with food insecurity, but they did it for households who were previously denied CalFresh or had barriers to completing their applications. Since January 2016, they have leveraged technology like text messages to transform 540 cases at risk of denial into 540 households approved for the CalFresh benefits they need to put food on the dinner table each night.  

CalFresh County Liaison of the Year

Mat Brown, Access/Access 2Health- Central and South Region

Food insecurity doesn’t end with a single, approved CalFresh application. Households must complete a Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) midway through their certification period in order to maintain their benefits. Unfortunately, lack of access to food often goes hand-in-hand with lack of access to other basics like computers, mail and transportation. These basics are often necessities for completing the forms needed to maintain access to CalFresh benefits. But Mat Brown’s leadership and ingenuity is changing that.

Brown has overseen the County of San Diego's telephonic Semi-Annual Report (SAR 7) pilot, which allows CalFresh beneficiaries to complete their SAR 7 over the telephone. The impact of this program has been immediate and powerful, allowing households who lack access to computers, mail services or transportation maintain access to the food they need. In just the first three months, the pilot program has helped 1,760 households maintain stable access to food. As word spreads through the County, more people use the program successfully each month.

CalFresh Outreach Partner & County Collaboration of the Year

The Partnership of Health Coverage Access and Feeding San Diego

Applying for public assistance is a stigmatized, complicated process, but the passion and leadership of Health Coverage Access and Feeding San Diego is changing that. The two organizations have partnered to lead workshops that demystify and destigmatize services like CalFresh so that more families can access the solutions they need. Feeding San Diego and Health Coverage Access bring same day services to unique populations. This year they have worked on providing outreach for the homeless and they will expand to provide outreach at school sites in 2017. Health Coverage Access staff go above and beyond to offer as many interviews as they can down to the last minute, often staying past the scheduled time and assisting clients with complicated cases. They are are always willing to take the time to look up a client’s information to help make their situation a little more clear. 

Dominic Camplisson, Tony Morris and many other staff are using new, school-style formats to bring more help and information to more families. San Diego Hunger Coalition and its CalFresh Task Force look forward to expanding this successful model in 2017 to reach even more community members.

CalFresh Outreach Partner & Community Collaboration of the Year

The Partnership of Sharp Grossmont Hospital, 2-1-1 San Diego and Feeding San Diego

Sharp Grossmont Hospital’s Care Transitions Intervention (CTI) knows that access to food and good health are inextricably linked. Through a partnership with 2-1-1 San Diego and Feeding San Diego, Sharp Grossmont is leading the new frontier of hunger and healthcare solutions. After identifying food insecure patients through a new screening process, Sharp Grossmont can both refer households to CalFresh application assistance through 2-1-1 San Diego and provide medically-tailored, non-perishable food boxes produced by Feeding San Diego. Partnerships like this are leading San Diego County and the nation in holistic healthcare systems and healthy community building.

Connecting College Students to CalFresh

Photo courtesy of Miramar College

Higher education is crucial to breaking the cycle of poverty. However, the rising cost of education has made getting a college degree extremely difficult for people with limited resources. Making sure that students can meet their basic needs, like food and housing, can help them succeed.  

This year, there has been a greater focus on the issue of food insecurity among college students with the release of a new study that showed that half of all community college students are struggling with food and/or housing insecurity. Another study found that four in 10 University of California students do not have a consistent source of high-quality, nutritious food. 

The California Department of Social Services is working with advocates across California to make it easier for eligible low-income students to receive CalFresh. At San Diego Hunger Coalition, we are working to address hunger among college students on a local level.

Wins for College Students from the CalFresh Task Force

Over the last six months, CalFresh Task Force members have created new solutions for connecting college students to food resources, beginning with CalFresh, a monthly food budget supplement. Representatives from San Diego State University’s Student Disability Services Department and San Diego City College’s Extended Opportunity Program Services (EOPS) attended our last countywide meeting on September 1, 2016, and the group discussed ways to reach students who may be struggling with hunger and may be eligible for CalFresh. 

Three Recent Successes from the CalFresh Task Force:

1.    Five new partnerships now connect San Diego County community colleges with organizations that help students access CalFresh:

• Miramar College and San Diego Food Bank
• San Diego Mesa College and 211 San Diego 
• San Diego City College and Feeding San Diego
• Mira Costa College and Feeding San Diego
• Southwestern College and La Maestra Health Center

2.    Now, local colleges have new outreach and application assistance models, including guidance for onsite CalFresh enrollment, thanks to collaboration between community college representatives and CalFresh application assistance organizations. 

3.    Colleges interested in opening food pantries on campus have more resources to help them get started.

What’s next?

The Hunger Coalition’s work to connect college students to food assistance continues. As these new partnerships develop, we will also move forward with our work to simplify the process for college students with disabilities to access CalFresh. In addition, we’ll work with college campus retailers to allow students to use their CalFresh benefits to purchase meals on campus using an EBT card.

Why Thousands of Military Families Don’t Have Access to Food Assistance

Civilian families across the U.S. depend on SNAP -  known as CalFresh in California - to purchase the food they need to make ends meet. But thanks to a tangle of legal red tape, many military families in need are denied access to this vital food resource.

Roughly 1.4 million men and women serve as active duty personnel in the United States military. Their families comprise another nearly 2 million people. Just as the men and women in uniform serve and sacrifice for the safety and security of our nation, so do their spouses and children. These families cope admirably with the stress and instability of frequent moves and deployments and, sometimes, injury or death of their loved ones.

They also sacrifice financially. Unemployment of military spouses reaches up to 30% according to the Institute for Veterans and Military Families, which has been attributed to frequent moves, deployments, a lack of job opportunities in some station locations, and increased parenting responsibilities due to the service members’ long hours. With reduced ability to have two breadwinners, the FINRA Investor Education Foundation found that in 2012 more than 40% of military personnel nationwide had difficulty making ends meet, rising to 56% of entry level personnel. Yet many of these families are not able to access the same federal assistance programs that other Americans rely on every day.

A Tangle of Red Tape

Rather than building and maintaining additional government-owned base housing, the Department of Defense (DoD) often relies on the private sector to address the housing needs for currently serving military families.  Military service members living off base receive a Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH). The BAH is based on geographic duty location, pay grade, and dependency status. The intent of the BAH is to provide uniformed service members adequate and equitable housing compensation based on housing costs in local civilian housing markets.  Since BAH is provided in lieu of on-base housing, federal tax law exempts BAH from taxation as income; however, there is lack of uniformity in how the BAH is treated in various basic needs assistance programs for military families. For example:

• The IRS does not consider BAH taxable income and does not consider BAH to be earned income when determining eligibility for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program.
• The Special Supplemental Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program gives states the option to not count BAH as income for the purposes of determining eligibility and benefits.
• Treatment of BAH in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program varies state by state.
• The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires that states must count BAH as income for the purposes of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility. 
• Eligibility for free and reduced price school meals is also impacted by a military family’s housing.

The Basic Allowance for Housing was never intended to be considered income. We need to uniformly exempt the BAH from consideration as income or asset for any government assistance program. This is a common sense fix to streamline how military housing allowances are assessed across government programs. Our military families should never have to worry about how they will provide enough food for their children.

We can untangle the red tape and help these military families put food on the table.

We need your help. Will you sign this petition to help make sure our military families don't have to go to bed hungry? Together, we can help our nation's heroes.

Sign the Petition

The Hunger Advocacy Network, facilitated by the San Diego Hunger Coalition, represents the voice of these families and the nearly half a million San Diegans who don’t have ready access to healthy, affordable food. We share their experiences with policymakers nationwide and advocate for improvements to anti-hunger policies and programs.

Tackling The Unique Hunger Challenges of Rural Communities

People struggling with hunger in the rural communities of San Diego County often face severe barriers to accessing vital food assistance through CalFresh. When Lisa (name changed) found herself homeless and without enough food, she attempted to enroll in CalFresh to obtain the nutrition she needed. Lisa qualified for expedited services and,  if she lived in urban San Diego County, she may have been able to apply for CalFresh and start purchasing food through the program that same day. But in her rural area, Lisa had to wait without CalFresh support for a full week. 

Without a car or consistent phone reception, Lisa faced a number of serious challenges. Fortunately, one of our East County CalFresh partners, Mountain Health and Community Services, stepped in to help Lisa with the CalFresh enrollment process. But even using all the tools available at Mountain Health and Community Services, Lisa wasn’t able to obtain CalFresh for more than a week.

In order to help people like Lisa access the food they need, the Hunger Coalition has partnered with Mountain Health and Community Services and San Diego County’s Health and Human Service Agency to make accessing CalFresh easier and more efficient for people who live in rural areas of San Diego County.

Unique Challenges in Rural Communities

• Transportation: Rural areas have fewer bus lines, less stops and longer wait times, making it difficult to apply for CalFresh in person. For those who have cars, the nearest County office can be up to an hour away. In times of need, this gas money and time away from work and childcare is difficult to find.
• Communication: Cell phone, landline and mail service is limited in rural areas.
• Food Access: Many rural areas are food deserts with a limited number of grocery stores. Many people in rural areas have to rely upon convenience stores, where healthy food may not be available and prices are much higher.
• CalFresh and Tribal Reservations: Tribal areas have specific CalFresh regulations that make the application process more confusing and time consuming.
• Limited Resources: Social services like meal sites, food pantries and homeless shelters are much less common and more difficult to access in rural areas – if they exist at all. 

Recent Success In Bringing CalFresh Access To Rural Areas… 

Our CalFresh Task Force continues to work together and with different County government entities to solve these problems. Here are a few recent victories: 

1. Most people in rural areas use a P.O. Box for their mail, since they don’t have postal service to their homes. Previously, CalFresh applicants with a P.O. Box were required to go through extra steps to provide additional documents and data that required more time and complications. Our CalFresh Task Force worked with the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency to successfully remove these extra hurdles for people in rural communities.
2. We worked with Mountain Health and Community Services to train County staff at the El Cajon Family Resource Center on the unique challenges of clients in rural areas and the best ways to improve service.
3. San Diego Hunger Coalition met with managers at the El Cajon County office, as well as County leadership to develop new, innovative strategies for bringing rural communities better access to CalFresh. These conversations have led to, among other exciting potential improvements, the development of new ways to administer the CalFresh interview required in the application process for rural clients.

…And More to Come

We’re look forward to announcing more victories in the near future. Want to be a part of the change? You can get involved: subscribe to our newsletter, follow along on social media, make a donation.

Disrupting The Cycle of Poverty and Hunger At Community College

Community college students are rapidly becoming one of the most food insecure populations in America. A recent survey of 4,000 community college students revealed that half of students were food insecure and 40 percent had struggled to find enough food to eat in the last thirty days.

Higher education has never been more important for breaking the cycle of poverty, but poverty is becoming an increasingly prohibitive barrier to a college degree. 65 percent of jobs now require post-secondary education, but community college costs have increased 28 percent since 2000. Only 26 percent of community college students seeking associates degrees earn them within three years, and the majority of those who don’t complete their degree cite financial reasons for leaving early.

Assistance to purchase healthy food is available through SNAP, called CalFresh in California. However, only 27 percent of community college students who are eligible for the program are enrolled. CalFresh is a monthly supplement to a household’s food budget that can offer community college students independence and food security, making the path to a degree more accessible. In turn, their family may also take another step toward breaking the cycle of poverty.

Our CalFresh Task Force recognized this important opportunity and chose to utilize our quarterly countywide meeting to begin the process of building CalFresh assistance into San Diego County’s community college system.

On May 26, 2016, nearly 50 CalFresh outreach organizations, community colleges and local state universities came together to build partnerships that connect more eligible students to CalFresh. Notably, San Diego Food Bank and Miramar Community College are now working together to develop a Fall CalFresh Application Clinic for Miramar students. This partnership will leverage the knowledge of the lifestyles and needs of Miramar students with the resources of campus and community-based organizations to help eligible students access CalFresh and a life-changing degree.

Collaborations such as this are an important step towards transforming San Diego County’s higher education infrastructure, making food security and a college diploma more accessible to all.

CalFresh Outreach Director Amanda Schultz wins Freshy Award for Innovative Leadership!

CFO Director Amanda Schultz with State Assembly Speaker Toni Atkins and her Freshy award

The San Diego Hunger Coalition is thrilled to announce that our CalFresh Outreach Director, Amanda Schultz, was awarded the statewide 2015 CalFresh Forum "Freshy" Award for Innovative Outreach Leader of the Year!

Each year, California Food Policy Advocates hosts the CalFresh Forum to bring together CalFresh policy advocates from around the state to share out and collaborate on improving CalFresh benefits and enrollment. This year the Forum was designed with three plenary speakers each bringing unique insight into modernized business processes and systems which can be adapted to improve CalFresh participation and customer service, including our own Rick Wanne, Director of Eligibility Operations for the County of San Diego.

As part of the Forum and voted on by peers, each year the Freshy Awards honor the actions of individual Californians and organizations from across the state who have worked diligently in the last year to improve CalFresh.

Freshy Awards at the CA Food Policy Advocates CalFresh Forum 2015