With our free press under threat and federal funding for public media gone, your support matters more than ever. Help keep the LAist newsroom strong, become a monthly member or increase your support today.
CalFresh has been temporarily expanded for fire victims who are undocumented
A customer selects produce at a farmers market.
(
Semantha Norris
/
CalMatters
)
Undocumented immigrants who were affected by last month's devastating fires can temporarily access CalFresh benefits, despite usually being excluded from the food aid program.
Applications for the disaster assistance are being accepted through Wednesday, Feb. 19, and those who meet income limits and are approved will receive 30 days of financial aid to buy food.
The temporary extension shines a spotlight on an issue advocates have long struggled to change: California currently does not offer food benefits to its undocumented residents.
What are current benefit restrictions?
CalFresh is the state's federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which excludes all undocumented people and some other immigrants. Undocumented parents with children who are citizens or have legal status can apply for CalFresh benefits on their child's behalf, but not for themselves, limiting the amount of food aid their household can access.
Sponsored message
Nearly one in 10 children in California have an undocumented parent, according to advocacy organization the Children's Partnership.
The state offers food aid to some non-citizens who can't access CalFresh through its California Food Assistance Program.
-
Your game plan for what happens next. LAist will be there every step of the way. -
The utility, whose equipment is believed to have sparked the Eaton Fire, says payouts could come four months after people submit a claim. Accepting the money would mean foregoing a lawsuit. -
911 recordings obtained by LAist shed light on why and how emergency planning continues to leave people with disabilities behind.
What efforts have been made to expand benefits?
In a state budget agreement in 2022, Gov. Gavin Newsom included a plan to extend those benefits to undocumented Californians 55 years old and up. But the governor has delayed implementation of that expansion to 2027.
Efforts to expand food aid for all low-income undocumented people stalled in the state legislature last year.
"Because this program is more inclusive, families, regardless of their status that are being impacted by the fires, are able to get some temporary relief," said Benyamin Chao with the California Immigrant Policy Center.
Sponsored message
"It's unfortunate that it's temporary. Once the disaster period ends ... those families who are excluded [from] federal programs will no longer have that extra support, and that's concerning."
-
Immigrants make up a significant proportion of all the country's doctors. New policies are making it harder and less appealing for foreign-born physicians to come to the U.S. -
Medical and occupational safety experts warn that current regulations won’t protect hundreds of workers. -
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention webpage that previously stated, 'Vaccines do not cause autism,' has been changed to cast doubt on the scientific research that supports the finding.
Undocumented families face higher levels of hunger
Undocumented people and their families face higher levels of poverty in California, according to the California Budget & Policy Center.
The impact is particularly acute for kids. Research from UCLA found that before the COVID-19 pandemic, a majority of undocumented children lived in food insecure households, meaning their access to food was limited, irregular or uncertain.
Even though undocumented Californians can't access most safety net programs, they pay into them. A separate Budget Center report estimated that undocumented people in California paid almost $8.5 billion dollars in state and local taxes in 2022.
"Food is fundamental to people contributing to their communities," said Monica Saucedo, a senior fellow with the Budget Center. "In an emergency there is this recognition [that] food access is absolutely necessary. That should translate into everyday life. That need doesn't go away just because people are not experiencing an emergency."
At LAist, we believe in journalism without censorship and the right of a free press to speak truth to those in power. Our hard-hitting watchdog reporting on local government, climate, and the ongoing housing and homelessness crisis is trustworthy, independent and freely accessible to everyone thanks to the support of readers like you.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
