Additional $1.5 million in CalFresh benefits handed out to Sonoma County wildfire victims

A Press Democrat article celebrates that $1.5 million in CalFresh benefits were given to those impacted by fires in Sonoma County. As stated in the article:

On Tuesday, the Sonoma County Human Services Department announced 2,118 applications were submitted for such benefits, with nearly $1.5 million handed out to Sonoma County residents through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The emergency allotments — one-time installments — were dispersed to qualifying applicants through an Electronic Benefits Transfer card, a debit-like card that can be used at grocery stores and other approved retailers.

Households new to CalFresh received $522,389 in benefits, while previously enrolled clients were allotted an additional $927,465, a news release from the human services department said.

CalFresh benefits were expanded to include fire-affected residents, regardless of immigration status, who lost a home, business, income or food, or had disaster-related expenses that will not be reimbursed, including repairs, temporary housing or evacuation costs.

.Read the full article here