Approve agreement with the Yolo Food Bank using American Rescue Plan funds in the amount of $250,000 for the period of October 25, 2022, through December 31, 2024, to assist in the operations of the Eat Home Yolo program during a time when need across the general distribution increased by 15% due to the pandemic. (No general fund impact) (Pinedo/York)

On September 28, 2021, the Board of Supervisors (Board) approved the initial American Rescue Plan (ARP) Expenditure Plan, which included $3,000,000 for projects under the Food Security priority category. At the October 25, 2022, Board meeting, Staff presented funding recommendations to allocate the remaining $1.3 million in the Food Security category. The Board expressed support for funding the Yolo Food Bank. Staff has worked with Mutual Housing California to develop the final contract, which is recommended for approval with this staff report. Additional information on the scope of the contract with the Yolo Food Bank and performance measures are described below.

Yolo Food Bank- Eat Home Yolo
Funding this contract with Yolo Food Bank will assist the Yolo Food Bank in the operations of their Eat Home Yolo (EHY) program during a time when they have seen the need across their general distributions increase by 15% in the wake of the pandemic. Eat Home Yolo is an essential program that was born out of the pandemic. Additional funding is crucial to keep this essential program running, especially since this was only intended to be a temporary program upon initial conception. The Yolo Food Bank plans to invest these ARP funds into not only sustaining Eat Home Yolo but re-visioning it to have an even greater impact on the senior population and other homebound residents. This project will sustain and increase current food security in Yolo County through the continued development of an equitable, sustainable local food system. There is a great need to purchase specific foods that are ideal and suitable specifically for the senior population. Currently, seniors get whatever food the food bank has that the normal constituents also receive. But the food bank has heard feedback that oftentimes, much of the food that is given out is not ideal for what seniors need, not only accessibility-wise but nutritionally as well. These funds would allow the food bank to have a level of choice and customization that they would be able to provide to the seniors and homebound populations that are served.

The Yolo Food Bank will continue to invest in and expand upon their efforts to survey all households across Yolo County. They are currently working with the Institute of Social Research (ISR) at California State University, Sacramento, and are experts in surveying and data analysis. They are in the process of helping the food bank with a survey that was born out of the successful Flipping the Food System Initiative from Big Day of Giving, which is focused on general food insecurity data collection from all households across the county. The funding, additionally, will allow the food bank to expand on these efforts and include an emphasis on understanding the needs of the senior, low-income, mobility-restricted, and homebound neighbors throughout Yolo County. 

The desired outcome for this project contract is to sustain and revise how to best serve the seniors, low-income, mobility-restricted, and homebound neighbors throughout Yolo County. The performance measures associated with this project include tracking how many people were served, how many pounds of food were distributed, how efficiently the services were provided, and analyzing if insecure food residents that are negatively impacted in the wake of COVID-19 feel more secure when it comes to food security by participating in the program. More information about this contract, including a statement of work, budget, and performance measures, may be found in Attachment A.

No competitive bid is required. The countywide ARP funds were allocated as part of the Board's FY2021-22 budget hearing on September 28, 2021. The Board provided direction on the remaining Food Security ARP fund allocation at the October 25, 2022, Board meeting.