Groups helping families hit by SNAP delays

As the federal shutdown marches into its fourth week with no foreseeable end, November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be delayed for some 5.5 million Californians.

- CARLOS DE LOERA

DIANA RAMIREZ / De Los; Photos by CAROLINA BASI, ISRAWMX, WILLIAM FORTUNATO.

Gov. Gavin Newsom blamed President Trump for the shutdown and the disruption of SNAP.

“Trump’s failure to open the federal government is now endangering people’s lives and making basic needs like food more expensive — just as the holidays arrive,” Newsom said last week. “It is long past time for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, stand up to Trump and deliver for the American people.”

Also, Newsom and state Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta announced Tuesday that California is joining other Democrat-led states in suing the Trump administration to force SNAP payments through the use of contingency funds. But the litigation, even if successful, won't prevent all disruptions.

To combat the losses that many Californians will feel, the governor is attempting to fast-track $80 million in state funds to aid in food bank resources. Newsom has also mobilized the California National Guard and California Volunteers to provide support to food banks throughout the state.

The delay will be heavily felt by California's Latinx population.

According to a recent study by the UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Institute, Latinos make up 55% of participants in CalFresh, California's state-specific name for its SNAP program.

In L.A. County, the data show that of the more than 1.5 million SNAP beneficiaries, Latinx people make up 62% of CalFresh enrollees.

The institute's research also showed children account for 40% of the Latinx population enrolled in CalFresh institute's work The showed that programs such as CalFresh and California's Medicaid program, MediCal, helped mitigate the effects on the 48% of low-income California Latino adults experiencing food insecurity.