CalFresh recipients in Sacramento County are starting to see their full benefits restored, a week after funds were paused due to the government shutdown.
“Sacramento County can confirm it’s already seeing fully funded November benefits for some recipients,” officials wrote in a press release Friday. “At this time, we do not know how long it will take for all recipients to receive their benefits – the County encourages all account holders to check their balance throughout the day.”
California, along with many other states, filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, arguing the federal government is legally required to fund the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). On Thursday, a federal judge ordered the administration to fully fund SNAP, including $1.1 billion for California recipients.
The legal battle over SNAP funding is not over, however. The Trump administration is appealing the decision to the Supreme Court, arguing it should only partially fund SNAP benefits during the shutdown.
The weeklong lapse in benefits left many of the 5.5 million Californians using CalFresh scrambling to figure out how to find their next meal. Food banks and other organizations and community members have been stepping in to fill the void.
Farmers’ markets that cater to CalFresh recipients, like the Florin Farmers’ Market in South Sacramento, have already seen a dramatic drop in customers. Organizers at the Florin market are assuring the public they are still open and providing services, including matching funds for CalFresh recipients.
The county added that food pantries and other resources are still experiencing high demand, and will continue to provide extra support “until the need is no longer urgent to support the community transitioning out of this food crisis.”
Sacramento County is home to approximately 270,000 CalFresh recipients, including 90,000 children.
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