Programs and CalFresh Goals Define Programming (Food Connection) - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Second Harvest Programs and CalFresh

Goals

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• Define Programming (Food Connection)
• Communicating with Clients
• Programs
• Eligibilities
• Budgeting
• Dispelling Myths

Vision: A Hunger-Free Community Mission: Lead our community to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get

• ne

Mission

• 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

What We Do

Food Connection

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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

Free Groceries

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Indirect

• Applications for Calfresh
• Referrals to WIC
• Holiday Boxes

Direct

• Pantries
• Prepared Meals
• Family Harvest, Brown Bag, Produce Mobile

Eligibilities: Food Programs

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• Family Harvest (<275% of FPL)
• Anyone who lives in a household with someone under the age of

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• 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

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Calfresh

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• 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 -(Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
• Provides food assistance to low income households.
• Benefits are given on a card through the EBT(Electronic Balance Transfer).

Why do we care about Cal Fresh?

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How to Use Calfresh

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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.

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”
• n their door

Calfresh Eligible Food

All food fit for human consumption:

• Fresh produce
• Canned items
• Dairy
• Cereal
• Meat, poultry, fish
• Cold, prepared food

However, some items are not allowed for purchase such as:

• Hot, prepared Food
• Medications
• Vitamin supplements
• Alcohol
• 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) 1

$2,024

2

$2,744

3

$3,464

4

$4,184

5

$4,904

6

$5,624

Each Additional Member

+$720 Hint: write this down*

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?

A household can be an single individual, Or a group of people that purchase and prepare food together. Even if they do not purchase food together…

• A parent living with a child under the

age of 22 must apply with their child.

• A married/dating/separated couple

living together must apply together.

• Remember! Households can have

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

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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

Eligibility Rules for Students

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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
• ther state or local job training programs that USDA will accept

Seniors and Applicants with Disabilities

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A senior is defined as someone 60 years of age

• r 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.

Mixed Document Households

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Can qualify.

• Income is calculated differently based on who is

documented versus who is not.

Policy is Complicated…

• Able Bodied Adults Without

Dependents

• Public Charge
• SSI Inclusion

FCAAP

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• You will be trained on CalFresh

eligibility/application and food bank programs so that you can support your residents!

• Different kinds of partnerships!

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.