Food stamp applications skyrocket in Fresno County amid coronavirus pandemic
A Mendota mother of three says she has endured stressful weeks to feed her family since the outbreak of coronavirus here.
The 34-year-old mother says being able to put food on the table – especially now with kids at home during the coronavirus pandemic – is getting more difficult. Although, she said, the milk and meals the schools provide have helped a lot.
“We need to eat to survive,” said Angeles, who asked to be identified by her first name only since she’s trying to resolve an issue with her CalFresh benefits, the California program formally known as food stamps.
Her family is just one of the thousands of families in Fresno County that relies on the food support program, a program that’s seen need skyrocket since the COVID-19 outbreak landed in the central San Joaquin Valley.
A month after schools and businesses closed to slow the spreading virus, Fresno County saw CalFresh applications spike by more than 85% compared to 12 months earlier in April 2019. That’s about 11,838 applications received in April, according to data obtained by The Bee from the Department of Social Services.
In March, about 172,299 Fresno County residents participated in the program, which paid out about $26 million. April numbers were not available.
Not surprisingly, officials say the dramatic rise in applications is tied to the coronavirus shutdown.
“Something major has to happen in order for us to see increases like these,” Veronica Mota, a program manager at the Fresno County Department of Social Services, said in an interview. “We can assume that it is a result of COVID and the shelter-in-place that was ordered by the mayor.”
Some 4.5 million Californians have filed for unemployment benefits since March 12, and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office projects the unemployment rate could reach nearly 25%, which would almost double the surge seen during the Great Recession.
But data also shows applications already were climbing in Fresno County in the weeks before the public health shutdown, but at a significantly lower rate.
A total of 7, 487 applications – representing a 24.62% increase – were received in March, compared to the same time last year. In February, 6,192 applications were received, representing a nearly 18% increase, compared to the same time in 2019, data shows.
Surge challenges department
To keep up with demand, the Fresno County Department of Social Services redirected 150 staffers away from their regular work to help process the surge of applications.
On average, it takes about 15 days to process an application, Mota said.
Despite the crush of applications, most have been completed within 30 days, which is the statutorily required timeframe.
“For us, about 94% of the applications are processed within the regulatory timeframes,” she said. “That’s where we are with our timeliness.”
Those that fall outside the regulatory timeframe, Mota said, usually have to do with clients missing their initial interview or have issues with verification.
The last time the agency saw a surge in applications was last year when CalFresh expanded eligibility requirements. At least 500,000 people across California became eligible for food aid through the 2019 expansion.
People are encouraged to apply for CalFresh online at www.mybenefitscalwin.org, because many offices have limited lobby access during the outbreak.
Ofelia Ochoa, who leads a group in Mendota called Madres Unidas por un Mendota por Igualdad (Mothers United for a Mendota for Equality) said there’s a lot of need for food aid right now, especially in small rural towns like Mendota.
“Children are home all day,” she said. “Parents have more expenses in food.”
For Angeles, the struggle for more CalFresh help means less food on the table for her family.
“I’m worried, but with my credit card I’m not going to let my children go without food, even if it means that I will go into debt. We’re in a country where we shouldn’t go without food.”
In-person help
Addresses of Fresno County Department of Social Services’ lobbies that remain open with limited access:
Fresno, 3151 N. Millbrook Ave.
Fresno, 4455 E. Kings Canyon Road
Fresno, 1209 E Street
Selma, 3800 N. McCall Ave.
Reedley, 1680 E. Manning Ave.
Coalinga, 311 Coalinga Plaza
Kerman, 15180 W. Whitesbridge Ave.
This story was originally published May 18, 2020 at 9:28 AM.
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