Contra Costa County supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to allocate $21 million in emergency funds to help pay for food debit cards for the county’s SNAP recipients.
The cards will be distributed to more than 107,000 residents who would normally rely on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The move came hours after mixed statements from the Trump administration about SNAP funding. On Truth Social, President Donald Trump wrote benefits “will only be given out when the radical left Democrats open up the government …”
Hours later, the White House walked back the statement, saying the administration will use emergency funds to pay out “half” of the normal monthly benefits to the millions of Americans on SNAP.
Contra Costa County supervisors said the need is now and it’s not political.
“So what’s new? We knew something like that was going to happen,” Supervisor John Gioia said about Trump’s post. “It’s shameful, but we want to make sure our residents get their benefits in November, and that’s why we declared an emergency today.”
Supervisor Candace Andersen added: “When it comes to something like feeding the needy, you don’t make politics part of it. You help those who need you.”
The county says it will distribute the temporary debit cards to eligible recipients through the social services offices in Richmond, Hercules, Pleasant Hill and Antioch.
Details, including weekend hours for the offices, were still being worked out.
Source: NBC Bay Area
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