SAN FRANCISCO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom is warning that unless the federal government reopens Thursday, the millions in the state who rely on CalFresh benefits could see delays in receiving them next month.<\/p>\n
About 40 million low-income people across the U.S., including roughly 5.5 million in California, receive federal food assistance through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as food stamps. The food assistance program is known as CalFresh in California.<\/p>\n
But Newsom, a Democrat, warned families should expect an interruption to those benefits next month. New enrollees would be the first to feel those impacts.<\/p>\n
“This is serious, this is urgent – and requires immediate action,” he said.<\/p>\n
In light of anticipated delays to federal food assistance amid the government shutdown<\/a>, Newsom announced Wednesday that he is deploying National Guard troops to support food banks<\/a> in November.<\/p>\n Newsom said he’s fast-tracking $80 million for food banks in nearly every county in the state.<\/p>\n Los Angeles community leaders and activists gathered Wednesday to denounce the ongoing shutdown and its impacts.<\/p>\n “Every day this shutdown continues to force families to make impossible choices, like do I pay my rent or do I buy groceries?,” said Yvonne Wheeler, president of the L.A. County Federation of Labor.<\/p>\n The governor’s office said he’s building off of his efforts to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Newsom ordered the National Guard and volunteers from a state-run program in 2020 to work with food banks across the state to identify needs. Troops helped pack and deliver 800 million meals to people, Newsom’s office said. The governor will share additional details on the new effort as Nov. 1 approaches.<\/p>\n Volunteers through a state-run program will also provide support to food banks.<\/p>\n “During this critical time as DC strips communities of vital resources, Californians are doing what we always do – which is step up for each other,” said Josh Fryday, director of the Governor’s Office of Service and Community Engagement, which oversees the program.<\/p>\n