San Francisco Launches $18M Emergency Food Program Covering 112,000 SNAP Recipients Amid Federal Shutdown

As the federal government shutdown extends into its fifth week, San Francisco has launched an $18 million emergency food assistance program to support nearly 112,000 residents who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), known as CalFresh in California, which is set to lapse. The program is funded by a public-private partnership, with $9 million from the city’s reserves—originally set aside for contingencies under President Trump—and a matching $9 million from the Crankstart Foundation, founded by venture capitalist Michael Moritz and his wife. Mayor Daniel Lurie emphasized the city's commitment to ensuring residents can still access food despite the federal lapse, stating that San Francisco will not let the shutdown prevent families from feeding themselves. The city will distribute virtual gift cards or physical cards that provide tiered financial assistance based on household size, with amounts ranging from $200 to $500 per household. The program is unique in its scale and approach, as other Bay Area cities face uncertainty about providing similar support, and it involves partnerships with local organizations like the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank and GiveCard. Recipients have expressed relief at the emergency measures, which aim to fill the critical gap left by the federal government's inability to fund SNAP benefits during this unprecedented shutdown.