Kids & Family
Orange County Food Banks Expect Surge After Cal Fresh Eligibility Updates
Single mother Yesenia Jimenez said she has been relying on the free Families Forward community market in Irvine to help feed her children.
April 2, 2026
With some non-citizens no longer eligible for Cal Fresh benefits, Orange County food banks are bracing for an influx of clients.
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The change in eligibility requirements comes from federal policy updates barring certain asylees, refugees, parolees, individuals with deportation or removal withheld, conditional entrants and victims of trafficking from accessing Cal Fresh, according to the Department of Public Social Services.
"The trickle-down effect is that more and more individuals will need services like Families Forward for the very first time," said Madelynn Hirneise, CEO of the food pantry. "Maybe, they've been able to make it work with their Cal Fresh benefits, stretching their budget thin, and now that's gone."
Find out what's happening in Orange Countyfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
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