CalFresh Food Benefits Issued to Residents Impacted by Fire

SAN BERNARDINO>> San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department issued more than $170,000 in replacement benefits to CalFresh customers who lost food during the Blue Cut Fire. The benefits were made possible by a waiver from the Food and Nutrition Service on Sept. 2. The waiver allowed San Bernardino County’s Transitional Assistance Department to issue replacement benefits to CalFresh recipient households on Sept. 6 to 1,169 households in the fire evacuation areas. “The replacement benefits mean a great deal to our families who rely on CalFresh in order to provide for their families,” said Nancy Swanson, director of the Transitional Assistance Department. “The waiver allowed our department to be able to help families quickly replace what was lost to them in terms of food.” Residents near the fire were advised to discard food in cans, jars, packaged and stored in refrigerators and freezers because they may have been compromised by heat, smoke and chemicals used to treat the fire. The FNS waived Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program regulations which require recipients to report food losses through affidavits. Homes that may have experienced food loss due to smoke or chemical contamination are in the 92344, 92345, 92358, 92371, 92372, 92397, 92407 and 93544 zip codes. “Thank you to the Food and Nutrition Service for this waiver which allowed San Bernardino to quickly meet the CalFresh needs of families who were impacted by the Blue Cut Fire,” said Robert Lovingood, vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors whose district was impacted by the fire. “We will continue to be here for those whose lives were changed by the fire.” Residents affected by the Blue Cut Fire who need help with services and housing can call 2-1-1 or (877) 410-8829. The Transitional Assistance Department is doing its part to help the community achieve the Countywide Vision by ensuring residents have the resources they need to provide the necessities of life to their families while setting a course for self-sufficiency.