Refugees, asylum seekers set to lose CalFresh benefits April 1

Some 13,000 lawful noncitizens, including refugees and asylum seekers, are losing their CalFresh benefits in San Diego, according to the San Diego Food Bank.

The April 1 changes only impact a fraction of the approximately 400,000 San Diegans enrolled in CalFresh. However, on June 1, the CEO of the San Diego Food Bank, Casey Castillo, said about 100,000 people will see their work requirements change in order to keep receiving their benefits.

Some adults will have to work or volunteer 80 hours a month in order to maintain their enrollment. There are exemptions, according to the county, including for caregivers of children under the age of 14.

Castillo said the Food Bank is bracing to supplement the loss of the benefits for refugee and asylee communities.

“That’s not political for us,” Castillo said. “This is a basic need. This is food. And I think everybody agrees. People in trouble and people needing food deserve to have access to that food.”

The food bank does not ask for citizenship status.

“If you’re hungry, regardless of where you’re from and what language you speak, we can serve you,” Castillo said.

The chair of the County Board of Supervisors, Terra Lawson-Remer, said the county has been preparing for these imminent changes by loosening access to reserve funds and securing a partnership with the San Diego Foundation.

“That partnership is going to put together about $30 million over the next couple of years to invest in some of these critical services that are being cut by the Trump administration,” Lawson-Remer said. “Beginning first and foremost with food.”

Changes to work requirements for Medi-Cal enrollees go into effect at the start of next year.