CITY OF RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA
P R O C L A M A T I O N
Declaring May 2022 as CalFresh Awareness Month
WHEREAS, in 2011, the California Department of Social Services recognized CalFresh Awareness Month to increase public awareness about CalFresh, known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Progr am (SNAP), which provides monthly food benefits to individuals and families with low-incomes and economic benefits to communities; and
WHEREAS, in California, approximately 4.5 million people struggle with hunger and are estimated to need over $2 million per year in additional assistance to meet their food needs , and about 2 million people are eligible for CalFresh benefits but are not receiving them; and
WHEREAS, annually, the Contra Costa County Employment and Human Services Department (EHSD) helps over 35,000 low-income households receive CalFresh benefits; and
WHEREAS, people who qualify for assistance through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may also qualify for CalFresh benefits as well as all children born in the United States, regardless of their parents’ immigration s tatus, and college students who meet certain eligibility criteria such as employment or parenthood; and
WHEREAS, increased awareness helps dispel myths, such as: people on food assistance don’t work and don’t want to work (most households include at least one person with a job); recipients are a burden to taxpayers and a drain on the country’s tax revenue (SNAP benefits create jobs and stimulate local economies); poverty is too complicated to be solved by government (government assistance programs measurab ly reduce poverty and hunger); poor people will spend their benefits in irresponsible ways (benefits can only be used to purchase food); people are taking advantage of the program (entitlement programs like SNAP have extremely low fraud); the program is inefficient (SNAP dollars are spent effectively); and
WHEREAS, to find out if you qualify for CalFresh benefits, visit www.GetCalFresh.org, call 1-877- 847-3663 (FOOD), or reach out to EHSD at 510-412-3000 or www.ehsd.org.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED , that the Richmond City Council do es hereby declare May 2022 as CalFresh Awareness Month in the City of Richmond and encourages community members to join in CalFresh awareness programs and activities.
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Mayor Tom Butt
City of Richmond, California
May 3, 2022