AB 826: Emergency Food Assistance for Immigrants

AB 826 (Santiago) would establish a one-time fund to provide emergency food assistance for low-income individuals living in California, regardless of Immigration status, who have been negatively impacted by COVID-19. Specifically, this bill would establish a one-time fund to provide 6 months of emergency food assistance targeted to low-income residents harmed by COVID-19, while prioritizing those who are ineligible for other forms of food assistance due to immigration status. Each eligible person would receive $300 per month and up to $600 per household in the form of a benefit card to use only for food items.   

The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has disproportionately affected our communities of approximately 1.15 million low-income, undocumented immigrants that live and work in California. While our state has taken proactive measures to mitigate the consequences of COVID-19, California still lacks sufficient protections for our undocumented immigrants, many of whom have faced job loss or illness and are ineligible for most state or federal social service benefits. 

California’s undocumented immigrants are an integral part of our society who pay taxes and are risking their lives to continue performing essential services that keep California running and put food on all of our tables. Ironically, however, there are no food resources to support them should they or someone in their family contract COVID-19 or lose their job.