Fremont City Council Meeting: 03/01/22 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Human Services Department Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
STAFF REPORT (ID # 4546) DOC ID: 4546
Updated: 2/23/2022 4:23 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS AGREEMENT - Approve a Three Year Agreement with California Association of Food Banks for participation in the CalFresh Outreach program and Making Finding of CEQA Exemption Contact Persons:
Name: Alina Kwak Suzanne Shenfil
Title: Management Analyst II Director
Div/Dept: Human Services Department Human Services Department Phone: 284-4014 510-574-2051
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The Fremont Family Resource Center Corporation has contracted with the California Association of Food Banks every year since 2008 to provide CalFresh Outreach activities assisting low-income families to learn about and enroll in CalFresh (formerly known as Food Stamps, or the federal name SNAP – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program).
BACKGROUND: CalFresh is the name for California's Food Stamp Program. CalFresh is a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) that provides assistance for households to purchase nutritious food. The program uses an easy credit card format called Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) to purchase food at retail stores and farmers markets. The California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) is a statewide umbrella organization supporting California food banks and food assistance programs. CAFB's CalFresh Outreach Program is funded from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Services.
Funding is administered as a cost reimbursement. For every $1,000 of non-federal money spent and billed by a partner organization on allowable food stamp activities, $333 is reimbursed to the partnering organization.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: It is estimated that statewide only 70% of eligible California households are enrolled. California has one of the lowest SNAP participation rates in the nation. 40% of Alameda County eligible families do not yet receive the benefit, and outreach and assistance is needed to inform and assist families to access this benefit. Every $5 in new food stamp benefits generates $9.20 in total community spending1.
In the years that the FRC has been participating in this program, hundreds of eligible families have become enrolled. While California’s participation rate continues to lag far behind the national average, the FRC is assisting to inform eligible Tri-City families about CalFresh, thereby helping low-income families secure the support they need for a healthy diet.
1 Hanson, Kenneth, and Elise Golan (2002). Effects of Changes in Food Stamp Expenditures Across the U.S.
Economy. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service. Available at http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/fanrr26/fanrr26-
6/fanrr26-6.pdf. Note: Economic effect of increasing food stamps measured for the whole U.S. economy. It may vary by location.
Staff Report (ID # 4546) Meeting of March 1, 2022
Updated: 2/23/2022 4:23 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT: Reimbursement for CalFresh Outreach is determined by quarterly time studies, when staff track their time spent on CalFresh Outreach activities. Invoices are prepared by the department and submitted through Finance quarterly based on the time studies. The budgets submitted at the time of application represent our best estimate of how much time staff will spend on these activities. This program provides funding to support staff activities that are a part of our mission and responsibility. No new staff is hired for this contract. The maximum reimbursement for CalFresh Outreach activities is the following:
Term Reimbursable Amount
October 1, 2021-September 30, 2022 Up to $43,161
October 1, 2022-September 30, 2023 Up to $44,297
October 1, 2023-September 30, 2024 Up to $45,469
Total: Up to 132,927
FY 2021/22 is $43,161, which was anticipated and appropriated in the FY 2021/22 Adopted Budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: This action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to, without limitation, CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, and/or 15061(b)(3) as an administrative or fiscal activity of the City that has no possibility, directly or indirectly, to cause a significant effect on the environment. Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for CEQA exemption..
ATTACHMENTS: None.
RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the City Manager or her designee to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the California Association of Food Banks (CAFB) for the federal fiscal years beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2024. Also, approve this contract for review by the California Department of Social Services and the United States Department of Agriculture.