SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday to develop a pilot program to assist residents at risk of losing benefits due to recent federal budget cuts.
The “Safety Net Bridge Program” proposed by Supervisor Monica Montgomery Steppe would provide free services for local residents who could soon lose their access to essential health, food and social services.
The board voted 4-0 in favor, with Supervisor Jim Desmond saying he would support the proposal, but wanted to review the plan.
Following Wednesday’s vote, county officials will design the pilot program, which will be “focused on ZIP codes with the highest risk of Medi-Cal disenrollment,” according to Montgomery Steppe’s office. County staff will present their recommendations and other details regarding funding requirements and site selection to the Board of Supervisors within the next six months.
Implementation plans and cost estimates for food access will also be presented by the Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice within 45 days.
“Residents are counting on us to respond with urgency and deliver real solutions,” said Montgomery Steppe in a statement. “This program is about meeting people where they are and making sure families can still access a doctor, pick up their medications, and put food on the table even through the red tape and paperwork.”
Due to new federal requirements, Montgomery Steppe’s office said that Medi-Cal and CalFresh access was expected to be disrupted for “tens of thousands” of county residents starting next year. A county-conducted analysis also found that around 100,000 residents could be “at risk of skipping medications, delaying care, or going without basic health services,” her office said.