Helping Older Adults Receive Additional Access to Food  

The South County Sourcewise office in Morgan Hill has been helping older adults and adults with disabilities living in Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Gilroy since 2015. Thanks to a recent grant, South County team members have undergone CalFresh training and can assist eligible individuals with the application process.

You may be wondering, what is CalFresh? CalFresh is federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). This helps supply food benefits to low-income individuals through a monthly benefit. Clients can receive CalFresh benefits to help with buying nutritious foods. This can also help offset expenses as the money an individual would normally use on food can now be spent on items such as utility bills or other household expenses. The funds are provided to those that qualify through an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, like an ATM card. They may be used at grocery stores, farmer’s markets, and participating restaurants.

The Sourcewise South County office initially started helping with CalFresh applications in 2019. The CalFresh Assistors were able to enroll a total of 473 clients prior to the pandemic hitting. We have received funding to be able to resume offering this service. The team has experience completing CalFresh applications taking into consideration an individual’s income, and monthly expenses such as housing, utilities, and out-of-pocket medical expenses, to help clients qualify.

Who is eligible?

• U.S. Citizens
• Permanent Residents (green card), U or T visa holders, Refugees, and Asylees
• All U.S.-born children, no matter where their parents were born
• SSI recipients

Important documents needed to apply:

• Any valid form of I.D.
• Proof of income for the last 30 days (check stubs, retirement statement, bank statement, etc.)
• Social Security numbers for anyone who has them
• Medical bills and expenses for persons who are 60+ years old and/or have permanent disabilities
• Proof of housing and utility expenses

If you or a loved one is interested in applying for CalFresh benefits, complete the interest form at CalFresh Interest Form | Sourcewise (mysourcewise.com).

To learn more about the CalFresh program, speak with a Community Resource Specialist at (408) 762-7362 or email southcounty@mysourcewise.com.