Major Win for CalFresh Outreach in California — 211 San Diego Leads Local Advocacy

July 2026

After months of intensive advocacy, Governor Newsom has officially signed the California State Budget, securing a $14 million one-time investment to preserve the CalFresh Outreach Network. According to Meg Hersman Storer, Chief of Staff at 211 San Diego, the funding represents an important victory for millions of Californians who rely on application assistance, particularly as the state prepares for upcoming federal SNAP administrative changes under H.R. 1.

211 San Diego played a leading role in this effort, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the California Association of Food Banks, California Senator Steve Padilla (San Diego), Assemblymember Rodriguez, and a broad coalition of dedicated advocacy partners. Together, months of targeted outreach, constituent engagement, and community mobilization ensured that state policymakers prioritized this critical funding.

The Power of the Network

For more than 16 years, 211 San Diego has served as a prime contractor in California’s CalFresh Outreach model, helping connect thousands of individuals and families to vital food assistance each year.

But the impact stretches far beyond San Diego. In addition to serving as a statewide prime, 211 San Diego manages seven key subcontracts that expand access, reduce barriers, and ensure diverse communities can connect to CalFresh resources. This deeply rooted network includes:

• Community Link (211 Sacramento)

• 211 Humboldt

• Community Action Partnership of Kern (211 Kern County)

• Santa Ynez Valley People Helping People

• Orange County United Way (211 OC)

• Inland Southern California United Way (211 Inland SoCal)

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Looking Ahead

While this $14 million funding marks a significant short-term win, achieving long-term stability for outreach services remains the ultimate goal. Moving forward, 211 San Diego will continue to lead efforts to protect and expand CalFresh access by closely monitoring upcoming California Department of Social Services (CDSS) guidance, advancing localized outreach, and driving the next steps toward permanent funding stability.

Source: Information for this article provided by Meg Hersman Storer, Chief of Staff, 211 San Diego.