Second Harvest Programs and CalFresh
Goals Define Programming (Food Connection) • Communicating with Clients • Programs • Eligibilities • Budgeting • Dispelling Myths • 2
Mission Vision: A Hunger-Free Community Mission: Lead our community to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one
What We Do Serve approximately • 260,000 people / month Over half kids and seniors • Distribute through 390 • partners at 985 sites Half fresh produce • Connect to CalFresh and • school meals
Food Connection Field Two teams: one in SMC and one in SCC • Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese • Hotline One team in SCC for both counties • Send referrals to foodconnection@shfb.org • Languages: English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese • Weekdays 8:00-5:00pm • 5
Free Groceries Indirect Applications for Calfresh • Referrals to WIC • Holiday Boxes • Direct Pantries • Prepared Meals • Family Harvest, Brown Bag, Produce Mobile • 6
Eligibilities: Food Programs Family Harvest (<275% of FPL) • Anyone who lives in a household with someone under the age of • 26 Brown Bag (<275% of FPL) • Anyone who is 55+ and disabled, and anyone 60 years or older • • Produce Mobile (<275% of FPL) For everyone under the income guidelines • • Pantries For everyone under the income guidelines and for some who are • not Prepared Meals • • For anyone 7
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Calfresh • Calfresh = SNAP = EBT = Food Stamps • Calfresh is a benefit program to help people buy healthy food at stores/super markets. • It is the former Food Stamps program, funded by the USDA. • Also known as SNAP -( S upplemental N utrition A ssistance P rogram). • Provides food assistance to low income households. • Benefits are given on a card through the EBT (Electronic Balance Transfer). 9
Why do we care about Cal Fresh? 10
How to Use Calfresh It is used similar to a debit card. • Card will have client’s name and they can choose their own personal PIN number. The receipt will show how much is left on card. Any benefits left in the card will transfer to the next month. 11
Where to Use Calfresh • Grocery Stores like Safeway, Lucky, Trader Joes… • Costco • Small grocery stores • Some farmers markets • Some restaurants • Any store that posts “we accept EBT” on their door
Calfresh Eligible Food However, some items are All food fit for human not allowed for purchase consumption: such as: • Fresh produce • Hot, prepared Food • Canned items • Dairy • Medications • Cereal • Vitamin supplements • Meat, poultry, fish • Alcohol • Cold, prepared food • Household items • Pet food • Clothing
Overview of Application Process Step By Step Process: 1.Outreach for Calfresh 2.Prescreening & Verifications Compiled 3.Application Submission 4.County Processes and contacts client 5.Approval or denial of benefits within 30 days
CalFresh Eligibility
Pre-Screen • Checking to see if a client is potentially eligible • Saves time and prepares client • Takes less than a minute to do!
Food Insecurity Questions: • Within the past 12 months, have you worried about whether food would run out before you got money to buy more? • Within the past 12 months, did the food you bought not last and you didn’t have money to get more? • Within the past 12 months have you decided to buy less healthy food because it is cheaper?
Basic Eligibility Eligibility for Calfresh is primarily based on: • Income: The household’s combined income must not exceed 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). • Income is calculated differently for mixed document households** • Residency of all household members: • Must physically reside in current County. • Must have a valid social security number • Be a U.S. citizen or • Non-citizen admitted for lawful residence • Green Card Holder of 3+ years
Income Eligibility Household Size Gross Monthly Income (200% of federal poverty) Hint: write 1 $2,024 this down* 2 $2,744 3 $3,464 4 $4,184 5 $4,904 6 $5,624 Each Additional Member +$720
Benefit Amount People in Household Maximum Monthly Allotment 1 $192 2 $352 3 $504 4 $640 5 $760 6 $913 7 $1,009 8 $1,153 Each additional person +$144
Household Composition What is a household? Even if they do not purchase food together… A household can be an single individual, • A parent living with a child under the age of 22 must apply with their child. Or • A married/dating/separated couple living together must apply together. a group of people that purchase • Remember! Households can have and prepare food together. eligible and ineligible members and still qualify for benefits. Benefits will be allotted to individuals who qualify.
Homeless Clients • Do not need to provide an address • Do not need an ID at the time of application • Eligible for Expedited Services (ES) • “CalFresh benefits no later than three calendar days after the application date”
Students Who is considered a student? People between the ages of 18 and 50 who are • physically and mentally fit and are enrolled at least half time in a college or university What is considered a college or university? A business, trade, technical or vocational school • at the post high school level that normally requires a high school diploma or equivalent certificate for enrollment 23
Eligibility Rules for Students University/College Students must meet one of the following criteria to be eligible: • Be employed at least 20 hours/ week • Be enrolled in State Funded Programs that Increase Employability • Programs that Increase Employability for Current and Former Foster Youth • Receive Cal Grant • Be receiving or qualified for federal or state work-study money • Be a full-time student with a child under age 12 • Be a part-time student with a child under age 6 • Be a CalWorks recipient • Be enrolled in a CalFresh Employment and Training program (FSET) or other state or local job training programs that USDA will accept 24
Seniors and Applicants with Disabilities A senior is defined as someone 60 years of age or older. To be considered “disabled” the person must receive disability benefits. Special rules for that they can earn in income, • and expenses they can claim on their application. Different certification period. • 25
Mixed Document Households Can qualify. Income is calculated differently based on who is • documented versus who is not. 26
Policy is Complicated… • Able Bodied Adults Without Dependents • Public Charge • SSI Inclusion
FCAAP You will be trained on CalFresh • eligibility/application and food bank programs so that you can support your residents! Different kinds of partnerships! • 28
Communicating With Clients
Myths and Fears • “I can’t get it because someone in my family doesn’t have approved immigration status.” • “My lawyer told me not apply for benefits.” • “Can I own or be buying a home and still qualify for CalFresh?” • “I have a job. Can I qualify for CalFresh?” • Will it hurt my chances to becoming a citizen?
Myths and Fears • “I can’t get it because someone in my family doesn’t have approved immigration status.” • “Benefits are available for household members who are citizens or legal residents. This includes children or adults of any age.” • “My lawyer told me not apply for benefits.” • “Applying for benefits will not affect your immigration status. CalFresh is not cash aid. Programs like WIC and free lunch at school do not hurt immigration status.” • “Can I own or be buying a home and still qualify for CalFresh?” • “Yes. Owning a home does not count against CalFresh. Also, you can have retirement or college savings and still qualify.” • “I have a job. Can I qualify for CalFresh?” • “Yes, as long as your gross monthly income falls below the income limit.”
Will it Hurt My Chances to Becoming a Citizen? • Short answer: No. • Long answer: Also no. • Resources: https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/community -education-resources/
Some Talking Points • Food Insecurity • “We all know it’s expensive living here, food bank programs help you save money on food so that you can use that extra money for bills.” • People First Language • Make sure that your language is sensitive to a person’s situation. Always try to frame things positively. • “He is a diabetic.” • “You are unfit for work.” • Budgeting • Are you using all programs available to you?
Contact me at semartinez@shfb.org for information about learning more, getting outreach at your site, or how to do referral forms or CalFresh applications.
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