By Jon Chown
Santa Cruz County has ended the local emergency declared last month over food insecurity caused by the federal government shutdown. On Dec. 9, county supervisors approved the cessation, noting that federal nutrition benefits have been fully restored and the acute crisis has passed.
Second Harvest Food Drive barrels.
The Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors voted to accept a report on the shutdown’s impacts and formally terminate the emergency, which was declared Nov. 4 after the expiration of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program allotments left more than 35,000 county residents without roughly $6.5 million in monthly food benefits. Local food banks and community groups reported a surge in demand that exceeded their capacity.
To address the emergency, the board had approved contributing up to $500,000 to Second Harvest Food Bank Santa Cruz County for emergency food procurement and distribution. Cities, the County Office of Education and the Community Foundation contributed a combined $585,000. Second Harvest estimated the cost of feeding an additional 25,000 residents at about $1 million per month.
The federal government shutdown ended Nov. 12, and county staff confirmed that SNAP benefits have since been fully reinstated. Full benefits for November were issued, and full benefits will be issued for December.
According to county documents, the sharp spike in food assistance requests has eased, though year-round community food needs continue. Human Services Department staff expect an invoice of about $312,500 from Second Harvest for roughly two and a half weeks of emergency service, an amount within the board’s authorized funding.
Under state law, local emergencies must be terminated once conditions improve. According to county staff, the return of SNAP benefits and stabilization of food distribution services made continuation of the proclamation unnecessary.