CalFresh Outreach
CalFresh
Silicon Valley’s tech boom has created immense wealth for some, but it has also brought a huge increase in the cost of living, particularly housing. This makes living in the area extremely difficult for those who don’t earn high salaries.
These individuals are our co-workers, friends and neighbors, and they are struggling to make ends meet in an expensive region.
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, is a nutrition assistance program that provides benefits to supplement household food budgets when individuals and families cannot afford enough to eat. CalFresh helps low-income families and individuals purchase nutritious, culturally specific food from their preferred grocery stores and farmers’ markets.
- It is not a welfare program; it’s a nutrition program that supports productivity, promotes health and helps prevents hunger.
- To be eligible for CalFresh benefits, households can earn no more than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
- About half of those eligible for CalFresh in Silicon Valley participate in the program.
Why CalFresh matters
As a region, we are losing out on an estimated $321 million in additional economic activity. CalFresh participation helps return tax dollars to our local community.
Who CalFresh helps
Low-income households and families
More than 74% of participants are families with children.
States and local communities
The average monthly CalFresh benefit per household member is $136 — these dollars are spent in local grocery stores and farmers’ markets, and improve our economy. The households we assist with CalFresh who have their applications accepted receive an average of $198 per month for groceries.
Businesses and workers
Employees whose food needs are met at home may have higher productivity rates and take fewer sick days.
Interested in applying for CalFresh benefits? Visit our CalFresh page or fill out our form and we’ll contact you.