Thousands of Shasta residents at risk of losing food benefits if government shutdown continues

CalFresh benefits will likely be delayed next month if Congress doesn’t reopen the federal government today, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The government shutdown has reached its third week, and there are no signs of it ending any time soon. Newsom announced on Monday that if the shutdown continues after Oct. 23, CalFresh benefits will likely be delayed in November.

CalFresh is California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also known as food stamps. About 5.5 million Californians were on SNAP as of June, and Shasta County has more than 31,000 people on SNAP — about 17% of the county’s population. 

SNAP is overseen at the national level by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which is responsible for funding all benefits distributed through Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards. If the shutdown extends past this week, the distribution of CalFresh benefits in November will likely be impacted. 

How is the government shutdown affecting CalFresh benefits?

In a letter obtained by Politico from earlier this month, the USDA said funding is available for benefits and operations through October. But it warned state SNAP agencies that “there will be insufficient funds to pay full November SNAP benefits” if the shutdown continues after this month. 

The letter also told state agencies to hold off on sending out November payment files to vendors that handle EBT cards. Those vendors are the ones who load SNAP benefits — including CalFresh — onto people’s cards each month. The USDA cited “operational issues and constraints that exist in automated systems” and the “interest of preserving maximum flexibility” as the considerations behind its instructions to state agencies to delay benefits. 

Newsom said this week that CalFresh food benefits are 100% federally funded. He announced yesterday morning that he’s deploying the California National Guard to assist food banks. This isn’t unprecedented — Newsom did the same in March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. In a press release, he also said the state is fast-tracking about $80 million in emergency funding for state support related to food benefits. 

What is Shasta County doing about the problem? 

The California Department of Social Services began notifying counties on Monday to start preparing for the impacts of the government shutdown on CalFresh benefits. 

Shasta Deputy County Executive Officer Stewart Buettell told Shasta Scout in an email statement Wednesday that “the county is coordinating with state agencies to determine if we can continue to administer the CalFresh program, in the event of a federal funding lapse, which is expected if the federal shutdown does not end soon.” He said it hasn’t been determined yet if the state will backfill any of the funding. 

Buettell added that the county is notifying impacted benefit recipients of the likely delay in benefits as quickly as possible, while emphasizing that the county lacks funding to provide benefits to everyone on CalFresh if benefits are delayed. 

“The County does not have the tens of millions of dollars to support the full CalFresh program, even short-term, without additional funding from the federal and/or State government,” Buettell said. He also noted that county staff, at the request of supervisors, will bring forward a letter for board approval that urges the federal government to end the shutdown. 

When asked if the county will provide any additional help to food banks in the area in response to the likely gap in food benefits, Buettell said the county already helps fund local food banks without mentioning anything about providing additional funding. He also referred to the press release from Newsom about the deployment of the National Guard to food banks.

“We are continuing to actively assess what programs and residents will be impacted by the lack of federal funding,” Buettell said. “This has been an ongoing conversation because the longer the federal shutdown continues, the more programs, residents, and services will be interrupted and adversely impacted.”

What about other financial assistant programs, like Medi-Cal and TANF? 

According to the state, CalWORKs — also known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) — benefits will be provided through the rest of the month, but future benefits may be at risk if the shutdown persists. Immediate disruptions to Medi-Cal aren’t expected, though the site noted that the program could be impacted if the shutdown lasts beyond December. 

The California Department of Social Services should notify recipients if there will be delays in funding for any of these benefits. Receiving a notice from the state about delays doesn’t mean benefits have been terminated. Those who usually receive CalFresh and other benefits should continue filing all mandatory reporting requirements to ensure benefits are received once available. 

Free food and food bank locations in Shasta County

A Shasta County webpage provides information on free food and food banks throughout the county. Here is a list of free food location for seniors:  

• Anderson, at Anderson River Park
• Burney, at Veterans Hall
• Cottonwood, at Assembly of God Church
• Happy Valley, at Community Center
• Lakehead, at Lakehead Lions Club
• Redding, at Shasta Senior Nutrition Program and Redding Convention Center
• Round Mountain, at Community Center
• Shasta Lake, at First Baptist Church
• Shingletown, at Black Butte Jr. High School gym

Here is a list of emergency food bank locations: 

• Anderson-Cottonwood Christian Assistance (ACCA) at 2979 E. Center St., Anderson. Proof of address and picture ID required. 
• Fall River Mills Community Food Pantry at 43504 Hwy. 299 E., Fall River Mills. Emergency food bags available for residents from Pit One Grade to Day Road. 
• Good News Rescue Mission at 3075 Veda St., Redding. Bread available every day. 
• Hill Country Health & Wellness Center at 29632 Hwy. 299 E., Round Mountain. Recipients can get a food box up to two times per year. Call for an appointment at 530-337-6243. 
• Living Hope Compassion Ministries at 3391 West St., Redding. Food co-op program. Call for more information at 530-243-8066. 
• Salvation Army at 2691 Larkspur Lane, Redding. Bring proof of age, address and income. 
• Shasta Lake Community Food Pantry at 1501 McConnell Ave., Shasta Lake.
• Dignity Health Connected Living at 100 Mercy Oaks Dr., Redding. Limit of one distribution per month. Picture ID and proof of address required. 
• Shepherd’s Heart Community Food Bank at 3320 Brush St., Cottonwood.
• Shingletown Grassroots Food Pantry at 7752 Ponderosa Way, Shingletown (Black Butte Elementary School, Room 19). 
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church at 37474 Juniper Ave., Burney.

Two more locations offer meals daily: 

• Good News Rescue Mission offers breakfast, lunch and dinner daily
• Shasta Senior Nutrition Program offers low- or no-cost senior dining centers throughout Shasta County and Meals on Wheels home delivery. 

10.31.25 11:20 a.m.: We have updated the story to correct the title of a nutrition program.

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