Mayor Lurie Takes Next Step to Help Keep San Franciscans on Critical Food Assistance After Federal Cuts

SAN FRANCISCO – Mayor Daniel Lurie today announced nearly $6 million in new grant agreements with United Way Bay Area and Project Open Hand to identify opportunities to help San Franciscans meet new federal work requirements to retain critical food assistance. With those two organizations coordinating the CalFresh Community Works Program—launched earlier this summer and run by the San Francisco Human Services Agency (SFHSA)—other San Francisco nonprofits can complete an interest form with United Way Bay Area to serve as program host sites. As the new work requirements take effect, SFHSA estimates that approximately 17,000 San Franciscans risk losing the CalFresh benefits they rely on to put food on the table—and through this partnership, just one part of the city’s comprehensive response, SFHSA expects to place over 1,000 clients. The new grant agreements, totaling $5.8 million and authorized by the Human Services Commission, begin today and run through June 30, 2028.

The CalFresh Community Works Program builds on Mayor Lurie’s work to help San Francisco families cover the cost of basic needs like food, childcare, and housing. Following Washington’s H.R. 1 cuts, Mayor Lurie made significant investments to strengthen the city’s social safety net in this year’s budget, including $34 million to help San Franciscans stay enrolled in CalFresh and Medi-Cal benefits. When the federal government shutdown jeopardized SNAP benefits nationwide, Mayor Lurie brought together public and philanthropic partners to backfill food assistance for 112,000 San Franciscans in just a week. In July, Mayor Lurie built on that work, introducing legislation to centralize the city’s efforts to tackle food insecurity. Last month, Mayor Lurie launched a public outreach campaign to provide San Franciscans with critical tools for retaining healthcare and food assistance following federal cuts. Under his Family Opportunity Agenda, San Francisco is the first major city in the U.S. where every family with kids under five has access to childcare, and the city is building more housing through the Family Zoning plan and a transformative investment in affordable housing that will be on the ballot this fall.

“By connecting San Franciscans to these opportunities, we are not only helping families put food on the table but also making our city stronger, safer, and healthier,” said Mayor Lurie. “As Washington cuts assistance that San Franciscans rely on, our city is stepping up for our families—strengthening our safety net, bringing down costs, and finding ways to help keep San Franciscans connected to critical food assistance. Every family should be able to put down roots and thrive in the city we all love.”

“We fundamentally believe that food is a basic human right and should not be conditioned on meeting an arbitrary work requirement,” said Trent Rhorer, SFHSA Executive Director. “While we cannot control the changes to public benefits that have been thrust upon us by the federal government, we can and will do everything within our power—including innovative community partnerships—to help food insecure San Franciscans meet the requirement so they can maintain CalFresh.”

Under H.R. 1, CalFresh adults aged 18–64 who can work and do not have children under the age of 14 must meet new monthly work requirements to maintain their benefits. If they do not meet these requirements and do not qualify for an exemption, participants are limited to only three months of CalFresh benefits over a 36-month period.

One way that CalFresh recipients can meet work requirements is by participation in “workfare,” a structured work activity performed at a public or private nonprofit worksite in exchange for benefits. With no job readiness requirements, participants can engage quickly in structured, community-based work activities—offering a low-barrier way for participants to meet work requirements and maintain CalFresh benefits.

Through a “hub-and-spoke” model, United Way Bay Area will support a portfolio of CalFresh Community Works Program nonprofit host sites across the city. Host sites will offer assignments that support the participant’s development of marketable skills while fulfilling their work requirements and contributing to the city’s communities. Assignments will also take into consideration a client’s work experience, language needs, and capacity. Project Open Hand will develop and oversee a range of host sites within its own organizational programs.

“United Way Bay Area is proud to join San Francisco’s efforts in helping people keep their benefits during these critical times. This work allows us to continue providing immediate and long-term support for employment and meeting basic needs, while also serving the city that we love and being good neighbors,” said Keisha Browder, United Way Bay Area CEO. “Partnering with the city on the CalFresh Community Works Program allows us to progress toward our mission of mobilizing our communities so everyone in the Bay Area has a real pathway to belonging, stability, and opportunity.”

“Project Open Hand is honored to partner with the San Francisco Human Services Agency in the CalFresh Community Works Program. This partnership will help San Franciscans maintain access to critical nutrition benefits while gaining valuable workplace skills through meaningful service opportunities,” said Diana Contreras, Senior Director of Volunteer and Grocery Operations, Project Open Hand. “We are proud to support a program that strengthens our community while advancing our mission to improve health outcomes through medically tailored meals and human connection.”

Project Open Hand services will be provided at 730 Polk Street and at various Project Open Hand host site locations throughout the city. Services will be provided Monday through Saturday between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM.

United Way Bay Area coordination services will be provided at 550 Kearny Street and participant assignments will be provided at various nonprofit host sites throughout the city. Host site assignments and hours will vary from Monday through Saturday.