Tens of thousands of Bay Area CalFresh recipients—including veterans, older adults, and the homeless—could soon lose their food assistance under strict new federal work requirements taking effect June 1st.
According to the Bay Area News Group, President Trump’s signature H.R. 1 law mandates that certain low-income individuals prove they are working, training, or volunteering at least twenty hours a week to keep their benefits.
While Republicans defend the policy as a cost-saving measure that promotes self-sufficiency, local officials warn it will disproportionately impact vulnerable populations. Bay Area food banks are already bracing for a massive surge in demand as an estimated 665,000 Californians state-wide face losing eligibility.
In response, local county workers are scrambling to help residents find valid exemptions and navigate the grueling paperwork before the deadline.