food insecuity

Food service manager Nakheu Saephanh hands out boxes of food to family members at La Escuelita in Oakland on June 7, 2021. Oakland Unified has been providing boxes for pick up or delivery containing seven days worth of breakfast, lunch and snacks to all students since spring 2020. Photo by Anne Wernikoff, CalMatters

K-12 Education

Will California public schools continue free lunches for all?

Legislators want to spend $650 million a year to continue a pandemic program for free meals for all California public school students. They got their way in the budget deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom.

By

Sameea Kamal

• June 8, 2021

Capitol

Let’s make California a state where there is food for all

Senate Bill 464 will help provide food security to low-income families and help lift them out of poverty, regardless of immigration status.

By

Guest Commentary

• May 10, 2021

Yadira Michel, far left, Alonso Ceceñas, far right, and their four children with whom they share a one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles. Photo by Araceli Martínez Ortega

California Divide

Living without a job and under the harassment of the landlord

Alonso and his wife have been unable to afford rent during the pandemic. They share a one-bedroom apartment with their four children.

By

Araceli Martinez Ortega

• April 14, 2021

California Divide

Will COVID spur California to ease food stamp applications?

In a state that has long struggled to get federal food assistance to those who qualify, one senator is hoping that the third time’s a charm for his bill to ease application hurdles for CalFresh.

By

Jackie Botts

• January 6, 2021

Commentary

Change in food bank distribution service sets off alarm bells

A new entity that formed this year will be responsible for distributing millions of pounds of food to food banks throughout California.

By

Guest Commentary

• November 20, 2020

Capitol

State policies must support a vibrant nonprofit community

California’s nonprofits need the state to institute policies for contract flexibility, relief programs and access to COVID-19 funding.

By

Guest Commentary

• October 26, 2020

California Divide

Poor residents in some of Silicon Valley’s richest neighborhoods to get community pantry makeover

Hello! We’re publishing more of our work in Spanish to better serve our diverse state. Make sure to click here to read the article in English. Demand for food and social services has grown almost five-fold in some of Silicon Valley’s wealthiest neighborhoods. Now, the sole full-service social services provider in Cupertino and other west valley cities […]

By

Laurence Du Sault

• September 17, 2020

Earlier this week, the Legislature approved AB 826, which allows nonprofits, such as food banks, to distribute $600 prepaid grocery cards to each qualified adult regardless of immigration status. Photo by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Divide

Undocumented immigrants could qualify for $600 if Newsom signs pandemic assistance bill

Given overwhelming demand for pandemic relief, undocumented Californians hope the governor will authorize a second round of emergency grocery money. But it’s still not clear yet where funding will come from.

By

Jacqueline Garcia

• September 5, 2020

Food security, ability to pay rent and loss of low-wage jobs are three areas where economic disparities in California are most visible amid the coronavirus pandemic. Photos by Anne Wernikoff for CalMatters

California Divide

How COVID is deepening California’s income inequality in 5 charts

The pandemic has left millions of Californians without jobs, food or money for next month's rent. Meanwhile, the state's many billionaires got richer.

By

Jackie Botts

• July 20, 2020

California Divide

Coronavirus: Bay Area food banks now serving more than 1 million a month

The number of people receiving help from food banks has doubled across the seven-county Bay Area from pre-pandemic levels.

By

Laurence Du Sault

• July 14, 2020

Food Insecuity