Hundreds of thousands of San Diego County residents could face food insecurity next month as a federal government shutdown is expected to impact the disbursement of CalFresh payments in November.
More than 395,000 people in nearly 240,000 households receive CalFresh benefits in San Diego County based on income. The nearly month-long shutdown means, at a minimum, a delay in November benefits for about 42 million Americans, including 5.5 million in California. Notably, more than 63% of California’s SNAP participants are children or the elderly.
CalFresh is California’s version of the federal food assistance program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly referred to as EBT or food stamps. The program is entirely federally funded but managed by states and administered by counties. Californians can still use CalFresh benefits left over from previous months.
Deacon Jim Vargas, president and CEO at Father Joe’s Villages, emphasized the human impact of the shutdown:
“The national budget reflects the country’s values. Who are we as a nation if millions of people are forced to go hungry or become homeless? We were already in a difficult situation and are nearing even more urgent times,” he said on Friday.
“Our neighbors in need cannot thrive if they lack nutritious meals. When they experience both hunger and homelessness, these combined stresses lead to short- and long-term health issues that make it more difficult for people to end their homelessness.
“People, especially our vulnerable seniors, are already making the heart-wrenching decision between paying for food, housing, or rent,” Vargas added. “Any delay in food benefits will only increase the likelihood of our most vulnerable populations falling into homelessness. Individuals, especially now, need somewhere to turn. We welcome all with compassion and empathy.”
Government leaders had until Thursday to reach a deal to end the shutdown without impacting federally funded programs such as SNAP/CalFresh. However, they did not meet that deadline. Democrats and Republicans blame each other for the ongoing impasse: Democrats refuse to vote on a budget bill without an extension of subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to keep health care premiums down, while Republicans refuse to budge on that demand.
California Governor Gavin Newsom criticized the situation, stating:
“Trump’s failure isn’t abstract; it’s literally taking food out of people’s mouths,” Newsom said in a statement on Wednesday. “This is serious, this is urgent, and requires immediate action. Millions of Americans rely on food benefits to feed their families, and while Republicans in Washington drag their feet, California is stepping up once again to fill in the gaps.
“As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, California is working to ensure CalFresh recipients don’t go hungry while food prices are spiking under President Trump.”
As a result of the shutdown, local nonprofits and food banks expect to shoulder much of the burden. The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank announced it anticipates additional costs of $500,000.
“The San Diego Food Bank remains fully operational and committed to ensuring access to food,” the nonprofit said in a statement. “We are aware of Governor Newsom’s announcement to deploy the National Guard and expedite emergency funding. We do not anticipate needing National Guard support currently. San Diego has always stepped up in times of crisis, and we’re confident our community will do so again.
“The need is urgent. We’re here to help.”
On the federal level, Brooke Rollins, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, stated earlier this week that the program was “going to run out of money in two weeks” and blamed Democrats for the situation.
“Because of the Democrat shutdown, there are not enough funds to provide SNAP for 40 million Americans come Nov 1,” Rollins posted on X. “Democrats are putting free health care for illegal aliens and their political agenda ahead of food security for American families. Shameful.”
However, according to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, SNAP has a contingency fund of about $6 billion, more than $5 billion of which should be available to cover SNAP benefits. This fund covers a large portion of the roughly $8 billion due in November. The USDA Secretary can also move funds among different nutrition programs and recently transferred $300 million in tariff revenue to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Local Congressman Mike Levin, D-San Clemente, placed blame on the Republicans:
“Let’s be clear: Republicans control the House. Republicans control the Senate. Trump is in the White House,” Levin said late last month. “If the government shuts down, it is because they wanted it to shut down. Because they refused to negotiate. This is on them.”
For those in need, local food resources and information are available through the 211 San Diego webpage or by calling 211. Additionally, a list of food resources such as food banks and pantries can be accessed at [feedingsandiego.org/find-food/](https://feedingsandiego.org/find-food/). People can also visit [SanDiegoFoodBank.org](https://sandiegofoodbank.org) for assistance, resources, or to make a donation.
Furthermore, Jewish Family Service offers resources for federal employees impacted by the shutdown, which can be found at [www.jfssd.org/government-shutdown/](https://www.jfssd.org/government-shutdown/).
The community is urged to come together during these challenging times to ensure that no one goes hungry.
https://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2025/10/24/food-banks-prepare-to-step-up-as-government-shutdown-impacts-calfresh-benefits/
