Santa Cruz Families Hit by Storms May Get Food Benefits

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(TNS) – The California Department of Social Services has announced that low-income individuals and families impacted by recent severe winter storms in seven counties across the state, including Santa Cruz, may be eligible for disaster food benefits.

The news came only a few days after the U.S. Department of Agriculture approved California’s request for increased CalFresh disaster benefits as a means for enhancing the recovery efforts in targeted counties.

The benefits, provided through the Disaster CalFresh food program, are available to those who lived or worked in the affected counties from Feb. 21 to March 22. During this period Santa Cruz County and surrounding regions were hit with another deluge of torrential rain, high winds and even several inches of snowfall in the mountains.

A family of four with a monthly income of $3,130 or less may be eligible to receive as much as $939 in food benefits through the program, according to a release from state authorities.

Those who already receive regular food benefits through CalFresh —the state’s implementation of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for low-income residents —will not be eligible for the disaster program.

Local individuals or families that meet the requirement of living or working in the county during the February to March disaster window may be eligible if the household experienced at least one of the following as a direct result of the winter storms:

—At least one person in the household was not getting regular CalFresh food benefits.

—Money was spent because of the storms or related power outages.

—Money was lost from work because of the severe winter storms.

—Money was spent because of damage to a home or business.

—Food loss alone.

Households can apply from April 17-25 by calling Santa Cruz County Social Services office at 888-421-8080 or submitting a pre-registration form online at mybenefitscalwin.org. Community members can also turn in a paper application and visit the county’s walk-in sites at 1020 Emeline Ave. in Santa Cruz or 18 West Beach St. in Watsonville.

Those who qualify will be provided an electronic benefits transfer card —similar to a debit card —that can be used to purchase food items at grocery stores and other authorized retailers. Approved applicants will be told by county officials where to pick up their card.

Information is also at cdss.ca.gov/inforesources/calfresh/disaster-calfresh.

Additionally, federal authorities have issued a waiver allowing CalFresh recipients in Santa Cruz County to purchase prepared hot meals through May 2. In normal circumstances, hot foods are precluded from eligibility for purchase with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits, according to a letter from Catherine Buhrig, associate administrator with the program.

The Disaster CalFresh program is the latest in a string of state and federal resources that have been made available to county residents following a historically destructive storm season. For the second time this year, Santa Cruz County was included in a federal major disaster declaration signed by President Joe Biden April 3.

Two disaster recovery centers are now open at the Felton Library and Watsonville Government Building. Residents impacted by storms beginning Feb. 21 are encouraged to visit the recovery centers for assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Small Business Administration and other local agencies.

How to apply

What: Disaster CalFresh benefits program

When: Now through April 25

How: Call the Santa Cruz County Social Services office at 888-421-8080 or visit mybenefitscalwin.org. Walk-in locations are also available at 1020 Emeline Ave. in Santa Cruz or 18 West Beach St. in Watsonville.