LOS ANGELES – The Board of Supervisors signaled its support Tuesday for increasing county enrollment in the state’s CalFresh food benefits program by 20 percent over two years.
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl recommended the goal, saying that more than a half million county households experienced “food insecurity” in 2015.
“Homelessness is rightfully getting a lot of attention, finally, but food insecurity is still not as much on our front burner as I think it should be,” Kuehl said.
CalFresh offers money for groceries, but only about two-thirds of county households eligible for the benefits sign up, according to an analysis by the Department of Social Services. The participation rate is nearly 93 percent in San Bernardino County.
Supervisor Hilda Solis said more needs to be done to let minority communities know that accepting benefits will not endanger families or their path to citizenship.
“They’re not going to be penalized … they’re not going to be deported,” Solis said.
The board directed staffers to look at processes to increase enrollment, retention and reporting. Based on that review, the board is expected to adopt the goal of a 20 percent increase.
The county’s move comes as the White House has proposed dramatic cuts to the federal food stamp program that funds CalFresh, seeking to restrict benefits to “the neediest households.”
“We are no longer going to measure compassion by the number of programs or the number of people on those programs,” White House budget director Mick Mulvaney told the New York Times on Monday. “We are going to measure compassion and success by the number of people we help get off of those programs and get back in charge of their own lives.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn, who co-authored the motion, disagreed.
Until more new jobs are available for those in need, “our compassion is absolutely about how many people we can feed,” Hahn said.
More than 44 million Americans rely on food stamps, according to federal data. That number is up from roughly 28 million in 2008, the year of the financial crisis.
Participation spiked in the three years that followed and then steadily increased through 2013 to a high of 47.6 million. Rates have been declining each year since then.
The Trump administration has proposed changing income eligibility levels and shifting responsibility to the states by mandating matching funds, citing concerns that food stamps are keeping some able-bodied people from working,
The White House proposal sets out $64 billion in cuts to the program over the next five years. By the fifth year of the phased cuts, total funding would be decreased by nearly 30 percent from current levels.
Nearly three-quarters of households receiving benefits in Los Angeles County are families with children and nearly 50 percent are working families, according to the supervisors’ motion.
Based on current federal funding, 100 percent enrollment in Los Angeles County would translate to an estimated $1.8 billion in additional federal funding.
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Single mother says
For one i am a single mother of 1 child not 4/5 i receive only food stamps not cash aid i have two jobs i dont drive a brand new car i dont have my nails done and cant buy fast food/alcoholic beverages with food stamps. My child gets a hot meal every night… not everyone on food stamps/cash aid are bad despicable people although i do believe if i am able to work 2 jobs so should the rest of everyone on public assistance. And give me a drug test ill pass with flying colors
George Keller says
Unfortunately, many of those who need assistance from the “system” are not the minority group. I am tired of hearing everything going straight to that. Poor minorities, all afraid they will get deported or arrested, like that even happens anywhere in California.
One large group who should be “targeted” for receiving benefits would be the elderly. Most of them just sit quietly and do not want to bother anyone with their problems. They do not want to take advantage of anything or they don’t want to bother others with their problems.
If you want to make something available, go find everyone that needs the services, not making it a point that you are being superheros for the poor minorities, which by the way, in LA county, the minority population has become the majority. Time to come up with a new name for the supposed victims.
CutTaxes says
L.A. County seeks to increase use of food stamps???
That is some major BS.
20% increase???
I say we do:
20% DECREASE!!!
Fire these politicians! Get some that will CUT Taxes.
Key Words of the day: CUT TAXES!
Matt K. says
Do you not comprehend?
The money and funding is already there! The Supervisors simply want to close the gap for families who might be “food poor” — meaning that they work (and probably pay taxes too!) but cannot provide adequate nutritional meals to their children. This also includes many elderly on fixed incomes who are in the same position.
They deserve the chance to get clean, healthy food too, and not just something out of a box or from a drive-thru window!
Irena says
Sadly, the argument of healthy food is rather mute now that many fast food places also accept EBT cards. Not saying that someone should be prohibited from purchasing fast food, only that it is no longer germane to the situation.
Mike White says
LOL! As if they’re going to buy nutritious food with their handouts. It’s Hot Cheetos and grape drank from the liquor store for dinner. Mom sells her food stamps to buy meth and a 40 for her new boyfriend. Eliminate all handout programs!
Be equal says
It’s funny if you look at the statistics the majority of people who receive Cash Aid and food stamps is white people I would rather eat hot Cheetos and drink grape soda then to eat mayonnaise sandwiches and drink Mountain Dew
Shane Falco says
If they are…food poor…let’s give them food instead of money. There’s a complaint that they can’t afford healthy food. They aren’t good at life decisions, couple that with their ability to add more children than they can afford, and the county should give them a box of bare essentials.
It’s enough that they won’t starve but not high quality items to be traded or sold.
The county/state can buy in bulk and it’s cheaper than the 1/2″ gallon of milk bought at a liquor store.
Tim Scott says
Sooooo…you want to run a parallel distribution system? County food outlets, stocked by county trucks bringing these “cheaper because they are bought in bulk” products from county warehouses?
Quick show of hands, how many people can see how stupid Foolco’s “cost saving idea” actually is?
William says
Why should we pay any attention to your suggestions on anything, Falco?
Who are you? An expert?
You’ve shown yourself to be selfish and self-centered, y’know, like everyone in the trump family/gop/tea party/and much of the Antelope Valley populace. You are not a wise source for how to do anything but gripe which you excel at.
Plus, aren’t you one of the ones itching to move outta California anyway?
Carry on. It keeps you busy.
Cliff says
It is more cost effective to provide EBT cards and food stamps than to set up a food distribution system. Yes, some people will cheat the system. That is unfortunate. Some civil servants cheat the system through pension spikes and questionable disability claims. You will always have bad apples no matter where you go.
Laughing says
The County/State used to distribute bulk food. “Line up to get your cheese.” It was discontinued due to cost of operating and it was seen as government competing with private business.
Rochelle says
I work a full time job and a part time job to have my things than I sit at my job (grocerystore) listening to all those people complain and want plastic bags yell and scream cause we don’t always have them. That they get them free and that it’s b.s. like yea we already know u don’t like to work you like free.but come on at least don’t treat the ones that work wrong .since they are working so I don’t have to do u can continue to bee a free loader
Gloria says
Yes I see it all the time being rude and disrespectful and they have their nails , hair, and makeup done carry coach and mk purses. Why cause they get free bees . Tired of this b.s. make their a$$ work not worthless
Sam says
When are they going to start cracking down on these idiots who pension spike? You know….the (mostly) white guys with barely a high school education who had their parents get them in the CalPERS system? The same guys who — without mommy and daddy’s help to get into the system — would be scrubbing toilets at a gas station?
The morons who create fake injuries on the job or who increase overtime work at the end of their careers to spike their public pensions?
The ones who live off taxpayer largess but then can’t wait to flee to some godawful place like Arizona, Nevada or Idaho to avoid paying state taxes?
The ones who are happy to draw a check from the taxpaying public but don’t want to pay any taxes themselves?
When are we going to crack down on these scammers?
TM says
I can barely afford to put food on table, pay over $ 1000 a month for rent, work full time, just finished online courses, pay my bills, drive a 1997 car that is in ok shape, take care of two kids under the age of 10,and still don’t qualify for food stamps, somehow I make too much
But then I observe the rest of the non working people who have 4-5 kids, driving an SUV at least 2010 and up, have nails and hair done on regular basis, and still qualify to get state aid???
So the only way for me to qualify is either work part time or not at all, have a couple more kids, divorce my husband and find a drug dealing boyfriend who has nice car to qualify??? Hmmmmmmm , something is not right with this state
I think they should mandatory drug test and should have people apply for jobs on a monthly basis, and state aid should only be for a minimum of 3 years to be on.Just enough in case they have young ones to seek daycare in that time frame
If not a job, go to school , get a career..it’s not that hard , just takes motivation and a brain, get off social media ( distracting)drugs or whatever is holding you back, and have a real life..make it worth it.stop wasting time and waiting for stuff to fall in your lap…
Honey says
Hi I think they should do a drug test on everyone who needs help by the county I myself get food stamps but I am going to a job club for the county to help myself get a job it’s hard to find a job in the AV . I have no choice but I am trying my best to be self sufficient. I don’t wanna be on welfare but hey I’m trying. Some people don’t even try to look for jobs. Some people don’t even go to the class it’s very helpful and they will help you better yourself as a person as well as a job seeker.
Sick of the people that take advantage of our system says
I know a family on welfare Section 8 and collect food stamps.
The mother is in Puerto Rico on 1 month vacation.
Now the other daughter that
doesn’t work she’s in Hawaii for a month.
Food bank believer says
There are a lot of food banks all through out this valley. You just show up, some will require ID some not. They give out meat, produce and drinks. I know people that are just working part time and have a family and this helps so much. Go to any church and they should be able to direct anyone that needs food. Every weekend there is a different place. There is no reason anyone should be hungry and be begging for money to buy other stuff, just saying.
Sick of people that can't pay their own way in life says
Thats BULL.
People getting food stamps Drive Cadillacs BMWs Mercedes by drugs and drink don’t give them crap
Tim Scott says
Read that on Breitbart, eh? Or is that a common practice among the hundreds of close friends you have that are on food stamps?
Yolanda Beniteiz says
I once was desperate, and enrolled for WIC. I started to receive WIC that day. It is an education based women, infants, and children nutritional program. This program is to ensure the health of the developing baby as well as the health of the growing child up to age two or three. The food vouchers were only good for whole foods and fortified cereals. There was no “Taco Bell” , Pizza Hut”, “McDonald’s” or any other fast food restaurant that accept these vouchers because they are real food items, which actually help with nutrition. At my time there 3 years (Thank God we finally made enough to not qualify),I was the 1%. Everyone there would openly talk about how they don’t got time for this s**t, they want their vouchers and they needed to go. They all had their nails done, their hair done, designer clothes..I walked outside and most of them had BRAND NEW CARS, escalades, audis, mercades , and here I was in a car I could actually afford.I hate it when people fight for others and get so offended when people get stereotyped They exist because it actually happens. People on section 8 openly get food stamps and talk about how they arrange it to show proof of “non-income”. They live with their significant other but don’t get married and claim the children as if they are single and say they don’t know who the father is and live in houses for $10 a month. The same house I pay $1,400 a month for. Give these people what they could afford, an apartment at best. When the government is paying for everything there is NO incentive for them to work..I know people who have admitted this time and time again they still get help. They shouldn’t be allowed restaurant food, that is a luxury not a right. They shouldn’t be allowed candy, that is a luxury not a right. Their children already get free lunch and breakfast, and daycare through CCR.
Shane Falco says
Having been a firefighter and a paramedic for over 30 years in Los Angeles county, and some of the worst and poorest neighborhoods.. I have yet to run a call for starvation.
I have yet to even hear about any call for someone whose only choice is to dial 911 because they were starving.
On the contrary, many of the times that we are in the houses of those on food stamps and section 8 they are obese, and live on fast food. How can we expect people who have been subsidized to make consequence free multiple poor life choices to make smart and reasonable food choices?
Shouldn’t the county supervisors be concerned about jobs instead of getting more people on the dole?
William says
Not everyone is as fortunate as you, Foolco, to get to take your 3% at 50 pension for the rest of your life. You would expect more compassion from someone who dedicated his life to protecting other from fires and aiding people as an EMT.
When I have entered the homes of poor people, I have often found a lack of food. Sometimes when I shared something to eat with them, it was the only meal they would have for the day.
Are there people working the system? You bet.
Ever hear of pension spiking? Or going out on disability right before you retire? That doesn’t happen in the worst and poorest neighborhoods. It happens in some of the best and richest ones.
Sam says
They’re not in it for the “compassion” William. They do it because, quite frankly, it was the only thing mommy and daddy could get them into after having barely graduated high school. It was a way for mommy and daddy to “save face” and not have a total F— Up of a child to be ashamed of at social gatherings.
The idea of “compassion” is a joke to most of them! They’re strictly in it for the easy money, the workout routines and free movies and meals back at the fire station.
Shane Falco says
William…”fortunate” may not have the same definition to me as it does to you.
I was only able to have the career I have because I worked hard and stayed out of trouble. I worked many different low paying and manual labor side jobs to pay for college. I didn’t drop out of high school, I didn’t knock up my girlfriend, I didn’t drink or do drugs, I wasn’t out committing crime and I made many meals out of 19 cent ramen noodles.
Those were all choices made, not some “fortunate” life. I chose this career and due to hard work and good choices, I cleared the background check.
You are hardly the first and won’t be the last who will act as if I have some “privilege” in life. Like others, you’ll discount and bypass the moral lifestyle choices and the hard work, the doing without for now to have for later,
long hours and you’ll act like you or others have been cheated out of something.
Laughing says
Just a note on why restaurants were allowed recently. There are some people that receive food stamps and live in cars or other conditions without kitchen facilities, this provides them with hot meals. (That and lobbying by the restaurant industry so they could get some of those state funds).
I agree for the most part though. My family used services until I could get back on my feet and I heard and saw people that acted like the ones you experienced. It sucks and I wish the state/county/cities would police the system more. Drug dealing may be illegal but it is a profession and they make lots of money, as do prostitutes and other illegal activity income earners.
Tim Scott says
LOL…another random speculator comes up totally wrong. Or are you just the same name caller that has tried this a dozen times before? As always, anyone who wants to get to know me is welcome to meet me. Having retired from running my own business, using skills I learned on a job I was indeed hired for, I have plenty of time.
Alby says
[removed] it. I should just quit my job, forget about my financial responsibilities and get in the welfare line with all the other Obama voters… the big human centipede. I can’t wait for the f.b.i. to investigate this nonsense. I see a lot of douche bags that are capable of working and finding a job but they choose to suck off the system at our expense. I should also have my woman crap out a lot of baby’s while im at it. Free money yey.
Could Care Less! says
This is a flawed system and needs to be revamped! the folks that use EBT should only be buying food not booze and such. I have witnessed first hand where folks will go into a store buy a few small food items thing ask the clerk after the items are scanned how much money do they have left on the card. When they there is money left they ask for it in cash!! Once the transaction is complete they take that monies and buy booze, smokes, blunts whatever. Vendors should not be allowed to do this and if they do get caught pay high fines in return which would stop this waste.
Ron says
Sooner or later the money will run out.
B.O.B. says
What ever happen to being in-charge of your life.
William says
trump voters want him to ‘fix’ everything for them. They just can’t make it in ‘murica.
Americans have migrated all over the country from the start to make a better life and discover new places to settle.
But, not trump voters. They want to stay put in Appalachia and have the federal government make their coal mining jobs reappear. Same with the trump voters in Michigan and elsewhere.
They’d rather sit where they are and starve than pick up and move for a better life……y’know…….like immigrants do. They should all move to Idaho to join our former AVers in paradise. It’s so great there.
Laughing says
Hmm.. So.cialist Kalifornia will give away food stamps from it’s own budget. Very nice. William and Tim Scott have nothing to worry about.
Tim Scott says
No worries. I knew that illiterate boob wasn’t you, and I’d guess almost everyone else did too.
William says
I know. Who do they thinking they’re foolin’, like-minded individuals.?
In other words, like-minded people are considered stupid by them.
That’s some genius thinking that people just like oneself are stupid.
It’s called ‘trumpism’.
mark says
How do you teach caring about people?
Ed Tom says
You begin by teaching people to care for themselves.