Healthy Mendocino :: CalFresh

For more information or to apply, visit the County of Mendocino webpage HERE or apply online at GetCalFresh.org.

Visit the Food for All Mendocino Facebook page for important updates and information on CalFresh and healthy eating

New Food Insecurity Index
This index is a measure of food access that is correlated with social and economic hardship. Improving a community’s access to food can improve other health and social outcomes, such as hospital readmissions, financial burdens for medication purchasing, and school readiness and attendance.  

The Food Insecurity Index is calculated using social and economic factors that may impact a household’s ability to access and purchase food. All zip codes, census tracts, and counties in the United States are given an index value from 0 (low need) to 100 (high need). Communities with the highest values are estimated to have the highest food insecurity. Let the index help you identify areas with highest need and collaborate around food access in your community!

You can view Mendocino County's Food Insecurity Index HERE

CalFresh

CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, (formerly Food Stamps) is for individuals and families with low-income who need a little help putting healthy and nutritious food on the table. It is the largest food program in California and provides an essential hunger safety net. CalFresh is federally mandated and in California, is state-supervised and county-operated.

CalFresh benefits stretch food budgets, allowing individuals and families to afford nutritious food, including more fruit, vegetables, and other healthy foods. The amount of benefits a household receives is dependent on household size, countable income, monthly expenses (such as housing and utilities), and immigration status. The program issues monthly benefits on an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Food may be purchased at any grocery store or farmers market that accepts EBT cards.

CalFresh History

The Food Stamps program was started during the great depression. In the 60’s the program was redesigned when leadership were made aware that U.S. children were experiencing malnutrition and dying from starvation. Senators Bob Dole (R) & George McGovern (D) helped design the Food Stamp Reform Act of 1977 which ushered in the modern-day Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

CalFresh for California Immigrants

Nourish California has created a toolkit about public benefits, immigrants and Public Charge Click HERE to view

Click on images for more information

Why is CalFresh important to Mendocino County? Over 10,000 county residents rely on CalFresh to have enough to eat. CalFresh participation brings $15 million to local businesses like farmers and grocers. CalFresh is an important program for those in our community experiencing hunger and malnutrition. Food is a basic need for survival.	CalFresh Program Funding CalFresh benefits are 100% federally funded. Funded through the Farm Bill and the USDA. CalFresh is not considered “welfare.” Around 3 million Californians are eligible, but not participating! California is losing billions per year in federal dollars because of low participation. The CalFresh Population Who is enrolled? Close to 70% of CalFresh recipients are children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Most able-bodied adult recipients are working. Who isn’t enrolled? Many families with mixed immigration status are fearful of enrolling their citizen children. Many seniors don’t know they are eligible or have trouble with the paperwork. Many in rural areas without reliable transportation have trouble enrolling and staying enrolled.
The Basics of CalFresh Eligibility There are income limits. There are deductions. Assets and resources are not counted. You can own cars and a home. You must be a citizen or qualified immigrant to be enrolled. A CalFresh household is defined as an individual, couple, or family that purchase and prepare food together. You can receive CalFresh and… WIC, P-EBT, School Meals, Senior Commodities, meals from community kitchens (like Plowshares), food from food banks & food pantries. You cannot receive CalFresh and… Native American Commodities at the same time. American Indians and Alaskan Natives can choose to enroll in either Native American Commodities or CalFresh, but not both.	CalFresh Income Eligibility Income includes: Earnings from a job, Earnings from self-employment (self-employment is when the person has filed or plans to file taxes on this income), Earnings from “odd jobs” (like cutting wood or cleaning houses), Any benefits such as Veterans Benefits, Unemployment, SSI/SSP, Social Security, child support, alimony, etc. Things that are not counted for CalFresh Income Eligibility Loans are typically not considered income. Money earned by a child under 18 years of age who is going to school full-time is not counted. Lump-sum payments are not counted: tax returns vacation payout at the end of a job CARES Act stimulus payments NCO COVID-19 relief funds
CalFresh Eligibility: Income Gross Monthly Income: Total amount of income for household Income before taxes are taken out Current monthly income, not yearly average	CalFresh Benefits CalFresh benefits average to $1.49 per meal With CalFresh you can buy: Meat Grains, Bread, Cereal, Frozen Foods, Vegetables, Fruit, Milk, Cheese, Dairy, Plant Starts &Seeds that produce food, Packaged & Prepared Foods… and more With CalFresh you cannot buy: cigarettes, alcohol, and similar products toilet paper, toiletries, and similar products pet food
CalFresh Markets CalFresh benefits can be used at participating: Supermarkets Small grocery stores Certified Farmers’ Markets Community Supported Agriculture, CSAs Click on images for more information: Look for the “EBT Accepted Here” signs.	CalFresh Market Match at Farmers Markets The CalFresh Market Match program gives recipients extra CalFresh benefits to spend at a certified Farmers’ Market. Each participating market has an EBT machine at their market manager booth. Most certified Farmers' Markets will double your CalFresh benefits up to $30 and sometimes more. You can now use CalFresh benefits to purchase a farm box from a participating CSA. And you can use CalFresh and the Market Match to save money on the farm box. Market Match/CSA flyer English & Spanish Check out this video on the MCFarm website to see how it works. Farmers Market EBT Video Click on images for more information:

To apply, visit the County of Mendocino webpage HERE , contact a CalFresh outreach organization in your community HERE, or apply online at GetCalFresh.org.