CalFresh families and employees face uncertainty post-shutdown

Fidela Curiel and her son, Jacob, rely on CalFresh for the food they need, everyday.

“It’s how I survive. Without it I probably wouldn’t eat,” said Curiel.

They are one of the many families that were directly affected by the longest government shutdown in United States history.

Congressman Jimmy Panetta listened to Curiel’s concerns, and others, Saturday afternoon. This came less than 24 hours after President Trump agreed to reopen the government for the next three weeks.

“People send us to Washington D.C., not to create chaos, but to provide that security. Unfortunately, for the past 35 days, we’ve seen a lot of insecurity out of Washington and that’s kind of trickled down and rippled out,” said Panetta.

Families who were impacted by the government shutdown were able to come to Second Harvest Food Bank in Watsonville, to receive food. Although the government is back open, families said they’re still anxious about the future.

“Honestly we don’t know what decisions they’re gonna make up in Washington right now, which is what really terrifies me. What if it starts another recession and we’re really gonna have to worry about where we’re gonna eat,” said Curiel.

The USDA is set to open back up on Monday, but Curiel, her son, and others, will receive benefits for March, and possibly April, all at once, in preparation for a continued shutdown. This is an adjustment Curiel said not everyone knows about.

“Having both months on there, I think, ‘Oh, I have all this.’ I think I have so much extra to spend, but I really don’t,” said Curiel.

Budgeting with the change is something Curiel said she is prepared to take on. She said she will do all she can to provide for her son.