Memorandum
Date: November 4, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Bruno Sabatier, District 2 Supervisor
Director of Social Services - Rachael Dillman-Parsons
Subject: Update and discussion on status of SNAP/CalFresh Benefit Delay
Executive Summary:
As of the writing of this memo, the federal government continues to be shut down, day 30. One of the impacts related to this shutdown is the SNAP/CalFresh benefit delay that impacts approximately 24% of our population in Lake County, or 16,320 individuals. SNAP/CalFresh benefits are used to supplement low-income families with food. As of November 1, 2025 there will be no available funding to refill SNAP/CalFresh benefits.
Some counties have taken action, such as Napa County who has declared a local emergency in order to provide flexibility in how to use their available funds to provide grocery gift cards to low-income families. Los Angeles School Unified School District is helping to stock up pantries, and 2-1-1 is being utilized to provide information about where food can be accessed.
Finally, Governor Newsom has fast-tracked $80 million dollars in state support to food banks throughout California. He has also deployed “the California National Guard and California Volunteers on a humanitarian mission to support food banks.”
Social Services Director Dillman-Parsons will provide an update and potential options on how Lake County can position themselves to mitigate the impact this may have on our most vulnerable populations.
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Estimated Cost: ________ Amount Budgeted: ________ Additional Requested: ________ Future Annual Cost: ________
Purchasing Considerations (check all that apply): ☐ Not applicable
☐ Fully Article X. <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI>- and/or Consultant Selection Policy <http://lcnet.co.lake.ca.us/Assets/Intranet/Policy/Policies+$!26+Procedures+Manual/Ch4_2021v2.pdf>-Compliant (describe process undertaken in “Executive Summary”)
☐ Section 2-38 <https://library.municode.com/ca/lake_county/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=COOR_CH2AD_ARTXPU_S2-38EXCOBI> Exemption from Competitive Bidding (rationale in “Executive Summary,” attach documentation, as needed)
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Consistency with Vision 2028 <http://www.lakecountyca.gov/Government/Directory/Administration/Visioning/Vision2028.htm> (check all that apply): ☒ Not applicable
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☐ Economic Development ☐ Infrastructure ☐ County Workforce
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Recommended Action: Discussion and possible direction to staff