Regular-General Government # 33.
Board of Supervisors
County Administrator
- Meeting Date:
- 11/04/2025
- Brief Title
- CalFresh Community Support
From:
Michael Webb, County Administrator, County Administrator's Office
Staff Contact:
Monica Morales, Director, Health and Human Services Agency, x5835
Supervisorial District Impact:
Countywide
Subject
Receive update on the impact on CalFresh families related to the federal government shutdown and the associated delay in benefits; consider adoption of a budget resolution to allocate up to $225,000 in Pomona Funds to provide support to impacted families; and delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute an agreement with the Yolo Food Bank for the delivery of the support. (No general fund impact.) (Webb/Morales)
Recommended Action
- Receive update on the impact on CalFresh families related to the federal government shutdown and the associated delay in benefits;
- Consider adopting a budget resolution to allocate up to $225,000 in Pomona Funds to provide support to impacted families;
- Delegate authority to the County Administrator to execute an agreement with the Yolo Food Bank for the delivery of the support.
Strategic Plan Goal(s)
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Thriving Residents |
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Collaborative Community |
Reason for Recommended Action/Background
Yolo County continues to monitor the impacts of the ongoing federal government shutdown. While there are other potential impacts to the county should the shutdown become more protracted, the area of focused attention that is upon our community right now is specific to the CalFresh (SNAP) program. While this is an evolving situation, and information is subject to change, this is what we know as of the writing of this report:
Across the nation, 42 million Americans rely on CalFresh benefits, including 5.5 million Californians. In the month of September 2025 alone, Yolo County issued $5.6 million in CalFresh benefits to 18,759 households for a total of 27,622 individuals who were eligible. CalFresh is 100% federally funded and a delay in CalFresh benefits is unprecedented. As the largest nutrition assistance program nationwide, CalFresh benefits help combat food insecurity and lifts millions of people out of poverty every month across the nation, providing a critical service to many vulnerable residents here in Yolo.
Yolo County has been proactively coordinating countywide efforts in response to an expected delay in CalFresh benefits resulting from the ongoing federal government shutdown. The County is working closely with leadership from the four cities, UC Davis, Yolo County Office of Education, as well as community partners, including the Yolo Food Bank, to ensure residents continue to have access to essential food resources. As part of this coordinated response, the Yolo Food Bank will deliver essential food items to the UC Davis Basic Needs Center on Saturday, November 8, and Saturday, November 15, where UC Davis staff will distribute them to students and campus community members. Additionally, the Food Bank is increasing overall food allocations by 20 percent across its nearly 60 regular distributions and working with 47 partner organizations throughout the county to ensure more resources reach those in need. In addition, the Yolo Food Bank will offer emergency food distributions at the Yolo County Woodland and West Sacramento Service Centers on November 5, 6, 12, and 13 to directly support CalFresh recipients. These targeted efforts are part of a broader, coordinated response that extends beyond immediate food access, as the Yolo Food Bank and Yolo County also coordinate with local grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retailers that may experience secondary impacts from the temporary reduction in CalFresh spending power. In short, a reduction in CalFresh benefits directly impacts the health and safety of our residents, as well as the local economy.
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown as of the date of this report, no new funding has been authorized for CalFresh benefits beyond October 31, 2025. As a result, unless federal funding is restored, CalFresh benefits for the month of November will not be issued, and households will not receive additional funds on their EBT cards. In response to this urgent situation, multiple efforts are underway to address the growing need. In addition to the food distribution efforts noted above, the State of California has taken action that, locally, authorizes the Yolo Food Bank to advance $800,000 of its annual allocation to help meet the immediate demand for food assistance. Further, the Governor has mobilized the National Guard to assist with the distribution of food supplies in the state. Additionally, the California Attorney General, along with 23 other states, have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for suspending SNAP benefits. Yolo County has focused our efforts on areas where we can have a direct influence to soften the blow of benefit disruption.
To this end, and to extent the reach of local food distribution networks, staff have identified up to $225,000 of one-time funds (Pomona Funds derived from tobacco settlements) that can be allocated for the support of the impacted families. The goal of these funds is to provide direct support for families to purchase food. Further, the goal will also be to partner with the Yolo Food Bank to leverage these funds to help secure additional or matching funds from the community through philanthropic activity. Staff are working diligently and expeditiously to create and implement a framework for the effective deployment of these resources. As such, it is crucial that we retain maximum flexibility in the approach to maximize the use and leveraging power of the funds. While more detailed parameters and proportions are being developed in partnership with the Yolo Food Bank, the general categories for deployment of the funds would be as follows:
- CalWORKs administration and assistance will continue to be funded. The state has committed to fill in the federal funding gap for now.
- CalFresh administration (processing of applications) will continue to be funded. The state has committed to fill in the federal funding gap for now.
- SNAP (CalFresh benefits) are 100% federally funded and will be impacted by the shutdown. Effective November 1, families will not receive benefits until there is a budget agreement at the federal level.
- Medi-Cal: there are no impacts to Medi-Cal administration or services at this time.
Across the nation, 42 million Americans rely on CalFresh benefits, including 5.5 million Californians. In the month of September 2025 alone, Yolo County issued $5.6 million in CalFresh benefits to 18,759 households for a total of 27,622 individuals who were eligible. CalFresh is 100% federally funded and a delay in CalFresh benefits is unprecedented. As the largest nutrition assistance program nationwide, CalFresh benefits help combat food insecurity and lifts millions of people out of poverty every month across the nation, providing a critical service to many vulnerable residents here in Yolo.
Yolo County has been proactively coordinating countywide efforts in response to an expected delay in CalFresh benefits resulting from the ongoing federal government shutdown. The County is working closely with leadership from the four cities, UC Davis, Yolo County Office of Education, as well as community partners, including the Yolo Food Bank, to ensure residents continue to have access to essential food resources. As part of this coordinated response, the Yolo Food Bank will deliver essential food items to the UC Davis Basic Needs Center on Saturday, November 8, and Saturday, November 15, where UC Davis staff will distribute them to students and campus community members. Additionally, the Food Bank is increasing overall food allocations by 20 percent across its nearly 60 regular distributions and working with 47 partner organizations throughout the county to ensure more resources reach those in need. In addition, the Yolo Food Bank will offer emergency food distributions at the Yolo County Woodland and West Sacramento Service Centers on November 5, 6, 12, and 13 to directly support CalFresh recipients. These targeted efforts are part of a broader, coordinated response that extends beyond immediate food access, as the Yolo Food Bank and Yolo County also coordinate with local grocery stores, farmers markets, and other retailers that may experience secondary impacts from the temporary reduction in CalFresh spending power. In short, a reduction in CalFresh benefits directly impacts the health and safety of our residents, as well as the local economy.
Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown as of the date of this report, no new funding has been authorized for CalFresh benefits beyond October 31, 2025. As a result, unless federal funding is restored, CalFresh benefits for the month of November will not be issued, and households will not receive additional funds on their EBT cards. In response to this urgent situation, multiple efforts are underway to address the growing need. In addition to the food distribution efforts noted above, the State of California has taken action that, locally, authorizes the Yolo Food Bank to advance $800,000 of its annual allocation to help meet the immediate demand for food assistance. Further, the Governor has mobilized the National Guard to assist with the distribution of food supplies in the state. Additionally, the California Attorney General, along with 23 other states, have filed lawsuits against the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for suspending SNAP benefits. Yolo County has focused our efforts on areas where we can have a direct influence to soften the blow of benefit disruption.
To this end, and to extent the reach of local food distribution networks, staff have identified up to $225,000 of one-time funds (Pomona Funds derived from tobacco settlements) that can be allocated for the support of the impacted families. The goal of these funds is to provide direct support for families to purchase food. Further, the goal will also be to partner with the Yolo Food Bank to leverage these funds to help secure additional or matching funds from the community through philanthropic activity. Staff are working diligently and expeditiously to create and implement a framework for the effective deployment of these resources. As such, it is crucial that we retain maximum flexibility in the approach to maximize the use and leveraging power of the funds. While more detailed parameters and proportions are being developed in partnership with the Yolo Food Bank, the general categories for deployment of the funds would be as follows:
- Direct aid to CalFresh households via purchase cards.
- Bulk food purchase and distribution.
- Credits for nonprofit partner agencies to “shop” the Food Bank for items tailored to their communities.
Eligibility for the funds will be CalFresh households, with a priority for families with young children and other high-need segments. Staff will follow the County’s procurement and finance procedures to account for the funds used. Additionally, reports and tracking will be implemented, such as unique distribution logs, verification to avoid duplication, weekly numbers by site/zip, and a close-out summary. When the federal shutdown reaches a conclusion, or if there is another intervention to halt the cessation of CalFresh benefits, the County will re-assess the situation and funding deployment as appropriate.
Collaborations (including Board advisory groups and external partner agencies)
Health and Human Services Agency
Department of Financial Services
County Counsel
Yolo Food Bank
Department of Financial Services
County Counsel
Yolo Food Bank
Fiscal Impact
Fiscal impact (see budgetary detail below)
Fiscal Impact (Expenditure)
- Total cost of recommended action:
- $ 225,000
- Amount budgeted for expenditure:
- $ 0
- Additional expenditure authority needed:
- $ 225,000
- One-time commitment:
- Yes
Source of Funds for this Expenditure
- Pomona Fund
- $225,000
Further explanation as needed:
Pursuant to the revised investment strategy for funds de-allocated from the Ceres Endownment Fund, $225,000 is made available for appropriation on an annual basis in the Pomona Fund. In accordance with guidelines approved by the Board in 2018, Pomona funds are intended to be used for purposes that support emerging health and human services needs.
Attachments
Form Review
| Inbox | Reviewed By | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Mark Bryan (Originator) | Mark Bryan | 10/30/2025 10:21 AM |
| Monica Morales | Monica Morales | 10/30/2025 11:59 AM |
| Tom Haynes | Tom Haynes | 10/30/2025 01:58 PM |
| County Counsel | Phil Pogledich | 10/30/2025 02:42 PM |
| Mark Bryan (Originator) | Mark Bryan | 10/30/2025 03:07 PM |
| Michael Webb | Michael Webb | 10/30/2025 04:12 PM |
| Cindy Perez | Cindy Perez | 10/30/2025 04:16 PM |
- Form Started By:
- Mark Bryan
- Started On:
- 10/30/2025 09:19 AM
- Final Approval Date:
- 10/30/2025