Santa Barbara County Urges Congress to Protect Food Assistance Programs

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously passed a resolution Tuesday urging Congress to protect federal food assistance programs as local food banks prepare for major funding cuts that could significantly impact low-income families and small farmers.

The resolution affirms the county’s commitment to the social safety net, including programs such as SNAP and CalFresh, amid rising food insecurity and the loss of key federal support.

Erik Talkin, CEO of the Santa Barbara County Foodbank, accepted the resolution during the meeting and detailed the financial toll of the funding cuts.

The Santa Barbara County Foodbank expects to lose close to $5 million in direct support. That includes more than 1.5 million pounds of food, a $24,000 FEMA emergency food grant, and $500,000 from the now-canceled Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program.

"That represents a quarter of all of the food that we distribute in the county," Talkin said.

The San Luis Obispo County Food Bank is facing a $600,000 annual loss. A proposed 20 percent cut to federal food assistance could double demand at local food banks, officials said, placing additional strain on already stretched resources.

Talkin added that food banks are increasing partnerships with local farmers by paying them to grow food for distribution, supporting both growers and families in need. This comes however following the cancellation of the federal program that allowed small farms to sell produce directly to food banks.

In Carpinteria, farmer Juan Osorio said he feels overwhelmed following this cancellation.

“What’s going to happen is I won’t be able to provide for my family,” Osorio said.

Second District Supervisor Laura Capps called on the community to step up support.

“If there was ever a time to support our local food bank, it is now, and with private dollars,” Capps said. “What is happening is devastating. This is a bipartisan program that has received support from both parties for a generation.”

While the resolution does not directly challenge federal or state authorities, it reinforces the county’s support for local solutions that maintain access to food for vulnerable residents.