Overview
- November CalFresh payments are delayed starting Saturday because of the federal shutdown, affecting more than 5.5 million Californians, many of them children and seniors.
- San Francisco will cover benefits through November for nearly 112,000 residents using a dedicated city reserve.
- Gov. Gavin Newsom deployed the California National Guard, allocated $80 million to bolster food banks, and sued President Donald Trump’s administration to unlock emergency funds for food aid.
- Food banks statewide are preparing for a surge in demand, ordering additional supplies with state support while warning they may be strained.
- Schools and colleges are expanding pantries and assistance programs, and restaurants in the Bay Area and Los Angeles County are offering free or discounted meals to children and seniors.