<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="2379" type="CITY" weightage="60" keywordseo="California">California</keyword> families will receive up to $365 per child under an initiative announced Wednesday by Gov. <keyword id="173696" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="Gavin-Newsom">Gavin Newsom</keyword>.</li><li>Households on food stamps, with children who receive free or reduced-cost lunches at school, will automatically receive the benefit. Others will need to apply online.</li><li>The money can now be used on Amazon and Walmart.com, the governor said.</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/?hprecirc-bullet">Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories</a>.</li></ul>Families struggling to put food on the table will receive up to $365 per child in the coming months, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday, the same day he announced that schools could reopen as soon as July.Until schools reopen, children who relied on school cafeterias for free or reduced-cost lunch — about 3.8 million, according to the California Department of Social Services — require assistance.The money is in addition to benefits provided through the state's food stamps program, <keyword id="9143105" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="calfresh">CalFresh</keyword> — the typical household gets $300 a month, with an average increase of $168 since the pandemic — which can now be used to purchase items from Amazon and Walmart.Not knowing if there would be dinner each night was a problem for millions of kids long before the pandemic hit, with 1.7 million children in the state experiencing "food insecurity," according to the California Association of Food Banks. The pandemic has only exacerbated existing problems, with the number of Californians applying food assistance <a href="https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-03-31/california-demand-food-stamps-calfresh-coronavirus">spiking by over 60%</a> after shelter-in-place orders ground the economy to a halt."Putting food on the table during this pandemic is hard for families on the brink," Newsom said in a press release announcing the decision, which could benefit roughly 3.8 million children identified as at-risk by the California Department of Social Services. "[W]e want families struggling to access food to know we have your backs."The state expects to spend $1.8 billion on the initiative, which is slated to end June 12.Current CalFresh recipients whose children receive free or reduced-price meals at school will automatically receive the extra benefit. Other families with children who receive assistance but are not on food stamps can apply online. Though, the Trump administration has discouraged California's substantial immigrant population from applying, threatening to revoke legal status if they receive such aid.Have a <keyword id="6355005" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="news">news</keyword> tip? Email this reporter: <a href="mailto:cdavis@insider.com">cdavis@insider.com</a>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/california-gives-poor-families-up-to-365-per-child-2020-4">Business Insider</a>

California to give poor families an extra $365 per child to spend on food, while allowing grocery purchases from Amazon and Walmart.com

<ul class="summary-list"><li>A basic income pilot in Marin County is helping moms secure housing, buy food, and pay off debt. </li><li>The pilot gave $1,000 a month to 125 low-income mothers of color.</li></ul><a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/basic-income-gbi-ubi-low-income-americans-afford-housing-food-2024-5">Basic income</a> allowed Claudia Muralles to finish her undergraduate degree.A resident of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-california-massachusetts-housing-costs-retirement-bay-area-climate-weather-2024-4">Marin County, California</a> — located just north of San Francisco Bay — Muralles said she often <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/chicago-basic-income-helped-mother-rent-an-apartment-ubi-gbi2024-5">struggled to afford basic necessities</a> for herself and her young children. She had to decide which bills to pay and which to delay for the following month: car payments, gas, or utilities. For meals, she could rarely afford meat with her rice and beans.That changed two years ago when Muralles began receiving $1,000 a month through MOMentum, a guaranteed basic income pilot serving low-income moms of color administered by UpTogether, a national nonprofit that has sponsored a series of GBI programs.For Muralles' family, basic income meant being able to pay bills and becoming more financially secure. With her new college degree, she feels "unstoppable" and optimistic about her future career."To me, the empowerment that came through the funds had no price," Muralles told UpTogether. "That sense of control over my money and sense I could do other things is priceless."First launched in 2021, the program selected 125 mothers with children under 18 to receive no-strings-attached cash for two years. Participants like Muralles had an average annual income of $29,000 — which is nearly equivalent to the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/poverty-line-leaves-behind-low-income-americans-snap-medicare-wic-2024-6">federal poverty line</a> for a family of four. A third-year extension provided families an additional $7,500, with the last payment in June.After two years of receiving funds through MOMentum, participants' <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/denver-basic-income-reduces-homelessness-food-insecurity-housing-ubi-gbi-2024-6">housing stability</a> improved by 15 percentage points, meaning those families were able to secure fixed and safe living conditions. Almost a quarter moved into new housing during the program. Over three-quarters of participants said their debt was more manageable, had enough food for their family, and spent more time with their children. Meanwhile, two-thirds of participants worked either the same or more hours.The pilot was a $3 million initiative by the Marin Community Foundation and UpTogether. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/san-antonio-ubi-guaranteed-basic-income-housing-finances-austin-rent-2024-3">Like other basic income pilots</a>, participants could spend the money wherever they needed it most, though this program specifically focused on low-income mothers.Marin County is one of the wealthiest counties in the US — the median family of four brings in about $186,600, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.marinhousing.org/marin-county-income-limits">according to Marin Housing</a>. It is also one of the nation's most racially disparate areas, per the local nonprofit <a target="_blank" href="https://camarin.org/blog/general/working-towards-racial-and-economic-justice-in-marin/">Community Action Marin</a>.<h2 id="975f4da5-9f05-4345-a6da-cd80a122e2de">With basic income, families had more housing and food security</h2>UpTogether reported that basic income positively impacted participants' financial stability, well-being, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/snap-alice-food-stamps-hunger-government-assitance-free-meals-2024-5">food and housing security</a>.Of the 125 participants, 24 moved into new housing situations, most in safer neighborhoods or with better amenities. The percentage of participants with housing stability rose from 45% to 60%, while the participants reported an 8% decline in homelessness.The average home value in Marin County, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.zillow.com/home-values/625/marin-county-ca/">per Zillow</a>, is slightly over $1.5 million, while <a target="_blank" href="https://www.renthop.com/average-rent-in/marin-ca">RentHop estimates</a> the average one-bedroom apartment to rent is over $2,600 a month.The report found participants used funds to pay down debt and save for the future, such as attending college — nearly half reported being enrolled in an education or training program since the program's start. They also reported less stress regarding unexpected expenses.Since starting the program, a third of the participants have begun a new job, while 58% have maintained their work hours. Over two-thirds said the program led them to pursue different employment opportunities.Participants also reported <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dc-basic-income-helps-couple-afford-healthcare-housing-ubi-gbi-2024-5">improved health outcomes</a>, partly due to decreased financial stress. More than three-quarters of moms said they worried less about sufficiently feeding their family, and were able to buy more nutritious food items.Participants were also more equipped to purchase things their kids wanted but weren't essential. About 70% of participants spent more time with their families.Most participants didn't lose access to government benefits, though the increased income may have contributed to some families losing specific benefits like like CalFresh, a state-level food assistance program that helps low-income residents purchase groceries.<h2 id="c499e224-915e-45ee-8420-9a8ceb589d71">More basic income programs are aimed at parents</h2>Marin County's pilot isn't the only basic program to focus on low-income mothers.It costs an <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/parents-young-children-financial-security-childcare-costs-data-2024-5#:~:text=Business%20Insider%20estimated%20that%20it,childcare%20system%20among%20developed%20countries.">average of $26,000 a year</a> to raise one child in America. And, <a target="_blank" href="https://unitedwaynca.org/blog/child-poverty-in-america/">per United Way</a>, infants and children living in poverty are also more likely to experience homelessness, food insecurity, and low-educational attainment later in life.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guaranteed-income-program-flint-michigan-new-moms-500-a-month-2024-1">In Flint, Michigan</a>, the Rx Kids program is offering about 1,200 pregnant mothers a $1,500 lump sum and then $500 monthly for their baby's first year. A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/immigrants-new-mexico-basic-income-for-housing-healthcare-ubi-gbi2024-5">basic income program in New Mexico</a> also gave $500 a month to mixed-citizenship status immigrant families with children.Some federal safety nets are also aimed at low-income parents. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gop-wants-cut-wic-low-income-baby-food-parents-2023-7">Women, Infants and Children </a>(WIC), the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/enhanced-child-tax-credit-parents-passes-house-business-tax-relief-2024-1">Child Tax Credit</a>, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/government-assistance-food-stamps-snap-doesnt-help-low-income-dinks-2024-5">Temporary Assistance for Needy Families</a> (TANF) are programs that provide financial assistance or tax breaks to caregivers of young children. Flint even used TANF dollars to fund Rx Kids.Local leaders and economic security experts are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/which-states-cities-have-guaranteed-basic-income-programs-low-income-2024-4">increasingly turning toward GBI</a> as a poverty solution. Compared to federal safety nets like SNAP, Medicaid, or rental vouchers, basic income allows families more flexible spending.UpTogether CEO Jesús Gerena said in a press release that Marin County chose the basic income model because participants "need cash, not another program.""The powerful results show that investing in moms and their children has big returns," Gerena said, "Mothers know best and can be trusted to make the decisions that are best for their families."Have you benefited from a guaranteed basic income program? Are you willing to share how you spent the money? Reach out to these reporters at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:allisonkelly@businessinsider.com">allisonkelly@businessinsider.com</a> and <a target="_blank" href="mailto:nsheidlower@businessinsider.com">nsheidlower@businessinsider.com</a>

A Bay Area county gave low-income moms $1,000 a month. 2 years later, more families had stable housing and new jobs.

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Cheryl Simmons, a parking lot attendant, lives in her car but makes too much for affordable housing.</li><li>Despite earning $42,000 annually, Simmons cannot afford rent and barely has savings left over.</li></ul>Cheryl Simmons, 62, thinks she'll have to "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/peak-boomer-scared-to-retire-working-depleted-savings-social-security-2024-4">work until I drop</a>."Simmons, who works as a parking lot attendant in San Diego, has struggled with <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cities-fight-homelessness-nationwide-spike-chicago-new-york-seattle-philadelphia-2024-2">homelessness</a> on and off for years, even though she's maintained jobs throughout much of that time. She <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/denver-guaranteed-basic-income-gbi-ubi-housing-security-homeless-rent-2024-2">lives in her car</a>, even though she makes about $42,000 a year. She and her son previously lived in an efficiency apartment since it was all they could afford.She makes slightly too much for a <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/micro-apartment-new-york-city-sro-studio-rent-2023-6">single-room occupancy</a> unit in affordable housing and exceeds the income limit for food stamps and other government assistance. She believes she's fallen through the cracks and thinks she'll never be able to retire or live comfortably."I don't have somewhere for my grandchildren to come and visit, and I always have to go and visit them. But maybe that's the way it's supposed to be," Simmons said.Simmons is one of the 30 million "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-retirement-of-peak-boomers-could-affect-economy-social-security-2024-4">peak boomers</a>" entering retirement age in the next few years, but most are not financially prepared to retire. These boomers, born between 1959 and 1964, are facing economic challenges some have called the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/boomers-not-enough-retirement-savings-gen-z-millennials-eldercare-2024-1">boomer retirement bomb</a>.A <a target="_blank" href="https://www.protectedincome.org/peak65-economic-impact-forum/">new report</a> from the Alliance for Lifetime Income's Retirement Income Institute found that 52.5% of peak boomers have below $250,000 in assets. Many of these boomers will have to drain their savings or heavily rely on Social Security income after retiring — with many having to continue working into their 70s, at least in part-time roles.Simmons also exemplifies the 29% of the country who fall into the category of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/middle-class-americans-earning-above-poverty-live-paycheck-to-paycheck-2024-4">ALICE</a> — or Americans who are asset-limited, income-constrained, and employed. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-typical-alice-middle-class-poverty-housing-food-benefits-2024-4">ALICE</a> Americans make enough income to be above the Federal Poverty Level but too much to afford essential costs. Most earn too much to qualify for government assistance, falling through the cracks of the nation's safety net. The share of ALICEs has risen over the last decade nationwide.<h2>Navigating homelessness</h2>Simmons was born and raised in Albuquerque and had her first child at 22. She was a single mother with no college education and worked in entry-level office and fast-food roles. She later enrolled in community college courses in accounting.She got married to her first husband, and they had two children together. She ultimately left the marriage, although she experienced homelessness after their divorce.Because her son wanted to move to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/moving-from-california-pros-cons-texas-millennials-gen-z-single-2023-12">San Diego</a>, she followed him 13 years ago with little money or belongings. She got into a shelter while her son looked for work. After both eventually found jobs, they moved into a studio apartment for $1,300 a month that she said was smaller than a hotel room. She also bought a car, which she's still paying off.Her current job as a parking lot attendant pays her about $1,200 every other week after taxes. Much of that goes toward her car, insurance payments, and gas, which averages <a target="_blank" href="https://gasprices.aaa.com/?state=CA">$5.39</a> a gallon in California.Her son lost his job, and the two were forced to give up their apartment. Her son lives in the car with his cat, while she rents an SUV from a former coworker and sleeps in the back.She said her company has offered to pay $1,000 toward a security deposit and other expenses on an apartment, though she said she can't cover monthly rent."I am OK sleeping in the car, and I don't need a whole lot. But it would be nice to have a bathroom in the middle of the night and a refrigerator," Simmons said.<h2>Worried about retirement</h2>She said she has <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-x-baby-boomers-savings-cant-afford-retirement-2024-4">no savings</a>, as her earnings have mostly gone toward expenses and housing during more stable periods. Her car payment is $274 a month, while her insurance is $111. Her son's car is about $600 a month, though he pays the insurance. She estimates gas is $80 a week between the two cars, while her phone bill runs her $150 a month. Since she can't cook food, she spends about $30 a day on food. Other expenses include $84 a month for storage, as well as some other debts."We can't be happy if we don't know sadness, so I just accept this little bit of sadness and go on with happiness," Simmons said.She tries to save some of her paycheck each month to get a camper van to drive to Texas to visit her grandson."At this point in my life, my expectations are very low," Simmons said. "I found out that it was hard to start over in your 40s."Even with all these expenses, she said she's been denied local and federal assistance. She makes slightly over the $3,288 gross monthly income threshold for a two-person household to qualify for <a target="_blank" href="https://dpss.lacounty.gov/en/food/calfresh/gross-income.html">CalFresh</a>, California's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as Food Stamps."I haven't really looked at the Food Stamp requirements for California recently since I just figured they're going to look at me and be like, you make $20 an hour and don't pay rent, so why do you need food stamps?" Simmons said.Even when it was lower last year, her income disqualified her from most affordable housing, as she makes well above the monthly rental assistance <a target="_blank" href="https://sdhc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/Payment-Standards_Income-Limits.pdf">threshold</a> in San Diego for an SRO or a one- or two-bedroom apartment.She said she's not alone among her coworkers and friends — one of her coworkers devotes half of his income to rent.She's nowhere near alone in her fears about retirement, either. She has no retirement fund, and she thinks her best-case scenario is ending up at a nursing home.She said that she has no choice but to continue working, as she said her expected Social Security payments in a few years would not be enough. She wants to remain active and have purpose at work, especially as she's been discussing a promotion to an office position.She said she's in relatively good health, and given that her mother died when she was in her late 40s, she views life at the moment as "bonus time.""I just know that things are not necessarily always going to be this way because I have seen changes in my life before," Simmons said. "I'm just pushing through and staying positive, though it's not always easy."Are you a peak boomer or ALICE? Are you worried about retirement? Reach out to this reporter at <a target="_blank" href="mailto:nsheidlower@businessinsider.com">nsheidlower@businessinsider.com</a>.

A 62-year-old employed 'peak boomer' in California makes too much for affordable housing but lives in her car: 'I'll work until I drop'

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Taylor Swift has been donating huge amounts to food banks across the country as she tours.</li><li>Second Harvest in Silicon Valley was one recipient of the donations in late July. </li></ul>It's no "Cruel Summer" for food banks in areas where Taylor Swift is having concerts. In addition to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-eras-tour-surprise-songs-acoustic-2023-4">playing sold-out-stadiums</a>, the singer has put money from her <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-much-taylor-swift-fans-spend-concerts-eras-tour-2023-7?_ga=2.245629254.354932233.1691614129-320236918.1686596616&amp;_gl=1*bfn59t*_ga*MzIwMjM2OTE4LjE2ODY1OTY2MTY.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5MTk4MjExMS4xNTMuMS4xNjkxOTgyMjMyLjkuMC4w">hefty ticket prices</a> towards making large donations to local food pantries and banks across the country.Second Harvest of Silicon Valley, a food bank primarily serving San Mateo and Santa Clara counties, received a huge donation from Swift on July 28, chief philanthropy officer Shobana Gubbi told Insider.Gubbi said the day they received the donation was the "best" and added that employees at Second Harvest were "so excited.""We are so grateful to Taylor for using her platform for good and for supporting food banks across the country during her Eras tour," Gubbi said in an email to Insider. "Here in Silicon Valley, where the level of need has risen again to peak pandemic levels, her generous donation will assist in our ongoing efforts to provide nutritious food."With an estimated net worth of over <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.insider.com/taylor-swift-net-worth-spending-2018-8">$740 million</a>, the Eras tour could make Swift a billionaire. Forbes previously estimated that the tour could make Swift about <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/petercohan/2023/04/06/eras-tour-could-net-taylor-swift-500-million-to-15-billion/?sh=77d9b2b92c5b">$500 million</a> to keep for herself.Gubbi said she could not provide the exact amount of money Swift donated. Still, he said the funds are unrestricted, meaning the donation can be used for anything Second Harvest decides — and according to Gubbi, 95 cents out of every $1 donated goes directly back into providing their services.Pre-pandemic, Gubbi said, Second Harvest served about 250,000 per month. Now, she said they serve about 500,000 a month, and nearly one out of six people in Silicon Valley need food assistance.According to Gubbi, inflation impacting food prices and <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/google-memes-tech-industry-layoffs-amazon-meta-twitter-2022-11?_gl=1*1pl2ori*_ga*MzIwMjM2OTE4LjE2ODY1OTY2MTY.*_ga_E21CV80ZCZ*MTY5MTk4MjExMS4xNTMuMS4xNjkxOTgyNTA1LjQwLjAuMA..">mass layoffs</a> across Silicon Valley have only increased the pressure on food banks in the area. The end of pandemic-era increases in CalFresh EBT benefits in March 2023 also added to struggling families' loads."When we have supporters of Second Harvest like Taylor, the biggest impact is raising awareness," Gubbi said. "This is a solvable problem. We can end hunger."Second Harvest isn't the only food bank Swift has donated to so far. According to <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/13/business/taylor-swift-food-bank-donations/index.html">reporting from CNN</a>, she made similar donations to the Arizona Food Bank Network, Seattle's Food Lifeline, and Three Square Food Bank, which serves the Las Vegas and southern Nevada area.Swift has long spent money on philanthropic causes, including food banks, <a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" href="https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/timeline-taylor-swift-generosity-8481430/">Billboard reported</a>. In 2011, she donated nearly $70,000 to her hometown library, and in 2017 she pledged a donation to Joyful Heart Foundation, which supports survivors of sexual assault. Her other donations have included money toward her fans' student loans and service dogs, according to Billboard.

Taylor Swift might be an anti-hero by her own admission, but food banks across the country love her

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="11892889" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="california" source="Orion">California</keyword> has the highest <keyword id="11964087" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="poverty" source="Orion">poverty</keyword> rate in the US, a Census Bureau report shows.</li><li>The District of Columbia was the only location with a higher rate of poverty than California.</li><li>Despite this, California's three-year poverty level average has decreased considerably since 2018.</li></ul>California remains the state with the highest poverty level in the US, according to a <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-275.pdf">September 2021 report from the US Census Bureau</a>.In the report, three-year poverty level averages were calculated for each state and the District of Columbia using the supplemental poverty measure, which found that 15.4% of California residents lived in poverty from 2018 to 2020. Only the District of Columbia had a higher rate of poverty - 16.5%.The supplemental poverty measure expands on the official poverty measure, which was <a href="https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/about/history-of-the-poverty-measure.html">developed by Social Security economist Mollie Orshansky</a> in the 1960s, by accounting for cost of living, work and medical expenses, tax credits, and government programs designed to assist low-income families and individuals.By comparison, California's three-year poverty level average has considerably decreased from <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p60-272.pdf">17.2 % in 2019</a>, and <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2019/demo/p60-268.pdf">18.1% in 2018</a>. Social Security transfers and stimulus payments prevented a combined 38.2 million individuals across the US from falling into poverty, while medical expenses caused the largest increase of the number of individuals in poverty, <a href="https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2021/demo/p60-275.pdf">according to the Census Bureau report</a>.Californians benefited the most from government programs like the Earned Income Tax Credit, CalFresh, and Child Tax Credit, each of which <a href="https://www.ppic.org/publication/poverty-in-california/">lowered poverty rates in California by more than 1%</a> in 2019, research from the <a href="https://www.ppic.org/publication/poverty-in-california/">Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC)</a> found.

You Searched For "calfresh" and got 5 results

California to give poor families an extra $365 per child to spend on food, while allowing grocery purchases from Amazon and Walmart.com

Charles Davis

A Bay Area county gave low-income moms $1,000 a month. 2 years later, more families had stable housing and new jobs.

Allie Kelly,Noah Sheidlower

A 62-year-old employed 'peak boomer' in California makes too much for affordable housing but lives in her car: 'I'll work until I drop'

Noah Sheidlower

Taylor Swift might be an anti-hero by her own admission, but food banks across the country love her

Sebastian Cahill

California has the highest poverty level of all states in the US, according to US Census Bureau data

Morgan Keith