APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY
________________________
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL
RESOLUTION NO. ______________ C.M.S.
INTRODUCED BY COUNCILMEMBER DAN KALB
RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF AB 922 (WICKS) TO ESTABLISH THE
PREPARED MEALS DELIVERY PROGRAM UNDER THE STATE
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROVIDING
MEALS TO UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS AND REQUIRING THE COUNTY OF
ALAMEDA TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM
WHEREAS, in September 2023 Alameda County Supervisors declared a State of Emergency on homelessness after the 2022 Point in Time Count showed its unhoused population jumped 22% since 2019; and
WHEREAS, Oakland’s population represents 26% of Alameda County, but 52% of the homeless population; and
WHEREAS, without a mailing address, reliable phone service or documentation required for enrollment, our homeless community has difficulties accessing public benefits programs like CalFresh; and
WHEREAS, once enrolled in public benefits programs like CalFresh, some homeless community members must walk 3-5 hours to access retail stores to use their EBT card; and WHEREAS, because homeless individuals do not have kitchens, there are limited healthy options using EBT cards; and
WHEREAS, from October 2020 through December 2021, Alameda County’s Emergency Food Vendor program distributed 5 million prepared meals using one-time CARES Act and ARPA Funds, there is currently no ongoing funding for these meal programs; and WHEREAS, during the pandemic lockdown the City of Oakland's partnership with restaurants to provide meals for both homeless residents provided essential nourishment and proof of successful service delivery that should be a standard going forward; and WHEREAS, policy research shows that governments can end hunger when they use multiple avenues to connect people to food, including restaurants; and
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WHEREAS, pandemic meal deliveries had a significant impact on our local restaurants, helping them survive the pandemic, and AB 922 provides meaningful and appropriate opportunities for them to participate in programs to serve the broader community; and WHEREAS, this bill would require the State Department of Social Services to establish the Prepared Meals Delivery Program for the purpose of providing meals to unhoused individuals, in order to contribute to lasting food security and a path to stable, permanent housing; and
WHEREAS, the bill would require the County of Alameda to participate in the program and to select a community-based organization as a grantee of funding for the program based on a bidding process, as specified; and
WHEREAS, the bill would require the delivery of food directly to unhoused encampments, as specified, with an average cost of $14.50 per meal per day; and WHEREAS, the bill would require the County of Alameda to submit periodic reports of performance data to the department while implementing the program, requiring a report to the legislature, no later than June 1, 2026, evaluating the effectiveness of the program; and
WHEREAS, the bill would appropriate $6,000,000 from the General Fund to the department, for allocation to the County of Alameda over 3 years, for the purpose of implementing the program; and
WHEREAS, AB 922 is a model for localizing and equitably distributing the resources we need to care for each other, increasing food access and helping local businesses, as well as enshrining a system of mutual aid and support; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED: That the Oakland City Council supports the passage of AB 922 (Wicks); and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED: That the City Council directs the City Administrator or his designee to immediately distribute this Resolution upon its adoption to Governor Gavin Newsom and State Assembly member Wicks.
IN COUNCIL, OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA,
PASSED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES - FIFE, GALLO, JENKINS, KALB, KAPLAN, RAMACHANDRAN, REID, AND
PRESIDENT FORTUNATO BAS
NOES –
ABSENT –
ABSTENTION –
ATTEST:
ASHA REED
City Clerk and Clerk of the Council of the
City of Oakland, California