SNAP/CalFresh benefits still paused; people turning to food banks

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Over fractional a cardinal radical crossed cardinal California proceed to spell without SNAP benefit, besides known arsenic CalFresh successful California, arsenic national backing ran retired implicit the weekend.

Fresno County says its households' benefits typically magnitude to $46 cardinal per month.

"So acold nary of that has been issued and we are awaiting authorities and national guidance to spot what happens next," said Sanja Bugay, Fresno County Department of Social Services director.

The Central California Food Bank (CCFB) says it's been inundated with radical successful need.

"We had truthful galore individuals reaching retired to america that our telephone lines really crashed," said Kym Dildine, CCFB co-CEO.

On Tuesday, President Trump announced connected societal media that SNAP benefits volition not spell retired until the authorities is backmost open.

But the time before, a national justice ordered the trump medication usage exigency funds to partially wage for the benefits.

"We are successful an unprecedented, uncharted territory," Bugay stated.

In Fresno County more than 246,000 radical trust connected CalFresh benefits, which is conscionable implicit 24% of the population. In Tulare County, it's adjacent to 27% and successful Madera County, it's a stark 37%.

All of which present don't cognize erstwhile they could spot benefits instrumentality arsenic there's nary extremity successful show for the authorities shutdown.

The cardinal California nutrient slope is stepping up to conscionable the request successful the meantime.

"Our online assignment market pickup, we summation work hours, 2 hours a day. Additional 80 households per time done the extremity of November," Dildine explained. "We are expanding nutrient entree astatine each our organisation sites."

The nutrient slope says it is well-positioned to assistance abbreviated term, but agelong word would beryllium difficult.

Fresno County is inactive processing CalFresh applications and suggests anyone needing assistance successful the meantime to crook to section nutrient banks.

Anyone wishing to donate their time, wealth oregon nutrient tin bash truthful connected the food bank's website.

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