DATE: March 1, 2016
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBMITTED BY: Chairman Buddy Mendes, District 4
Henry Perea, Supervisor, District 3
SUBJECT: CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Authorize the Director of the Department of Social Services to submit an application to the California Department of Social Services to implement the CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program in Fresno County.
Approval of the recommended action will allow the Department of Social Services (DSS) to submit a written proposal to the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) to offer a CalFresh Restaurant Meals Program (CRMP) in Fresno County. The CRMP will allow CalFresh recipients who are unable to prepare their own meals, specifically those who are homeless, disabled and/or elderly to use their benefits to purchase prepared meals at participating restaurants.
ALTERNATIVE ACTION(S):
As the CRMP is a voluntary program, the Board could choose to deny the request to submit an application to CDSS to participate in the program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no increase in net County cost associated with this action. CalFresh benefits are fully funded directly by the Federal and State government and have no County share of cost. Administrative costs associated with implementation of CRMP for the Department of Social Services, including support staff time for coordination and program marketing, will be funded by the CalFresh administrative allocation with the required County match funded with 1991 Social Services Realignment.
DISCUSSION:
Fresno County has a population of over 1 million, of which 228,609 are CalFresh participants. Federal statistics show that in 2014, CalFresh recipients received a monthly average of $141 in benefits.
The purpose of the CRMP is to offer food benefits to CalFresh individuals including those who are elderly (60 and over) and/or disabled and their spouses or homeless individuals to encourage the purchase of prep...
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