The City of San Francisco and the Crankstart Foundation have announced an $18.2 million partnership to continue the provision of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to local families amid the federal government shutdown.
The funding is split between the city’s $9.1 million commitment and a matching investment from Crankstart. Through a partnership with GiveCard and the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, the funding will support a one-time emergency aid strategy to ensure San Francisco families can access food assistance and buy groceries as the SNAP program is set to lapse for the first time ever, one month into the federal shutdown. The nearly 112,000 residents enrolled in the program will receive instructions next week in how to access prepaid cards loaded with funds that can be used at grocery stores citywide.
“We will not stand by with the federal government set to let these critical benefits lapse for the first time ever,” said San Francsico mayor Daniel Lurie. “San Franciscans stand up for each other, and we’re going to do what it takes to make sure our neighbors can put food on the table and provide for their families.”
“Crankstart is deeply committed to San Francisco and its recovery,” said Crankstart CEO Missy Narula. “We don’t see this as a partisan matter. We see it as common decency. Our neighbors should not go hungry, and nobody in San Francisco should be living in fear.”
(Photo credit: Getty Images/jetcityimage)