Orange County food banks expect surge after Cal Fresh eligibility updates

With some non-citizens no longer eligible for Cal Fresh benefits, Orange County food banks are bracing for an influx of clients.

The change in eligibility requirements comes from federal policy updates barring certain asylees, refugees, parolees, individuals with deportation or removal withheld, conditional entrants and victims of trafficking from accessing Cal Fresh, according to the Department of Public Social Services.

"The trickle-down effect is that more and more individuals will need services like Families Forward for the very first time," said Madelynn Hirneise, CEO of the food pantry. "Maybe, they've been able to make it work with their Cal Fresh benefits, stretching their budget thin, and now that's gone."

Single mother Yesenia Jimenez said she has been relying on the free Families Forward community market in Irvine to help feed her children. 

"It's a really, really big help for me, and my family," she said.

An even larger group of people could be affected in about two months, as new Cal Fresh employment requirements take effect at the beginning of June. Participants under 65 must work at least 80 hours per month or risk losing their benefits. 

CEO of OC Food Bank Mark Lowry estimates that around 40,000-52,000 people in Orange County could lose their benefits in June. 

"What it means is that we don't have enough food for the food-insecure people today and we're looking at upwards of 80,000 additional people who may longer be able to continue receiving the food from the government," Lowry said.

Jimenez, who works as a custodian, said that shopping at the non profit's market saves her family a lot of money. She's grateful it's there. 

"We've been homeless," Jimenez said. "We've been without food. So, we'd probably be going a little hungry."