Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the name of Riverside’s Housing and Human Services Director Michelle Davis as Michelle Decker. The Record regrets the error.
The Riverside City Council November 4 voted unanimously to redirect $100,000 from the city’s senior rental assistance fund to the Salvation Army’s emergency food program. The money, according to a report to the council, would go to help Riverside residents, like federal employees and food aid recipients, impacted by the shutdown.
“This just simply demonstrates what we can do at the local level,” Councilmember Jim Perry said at the November 4 meeting. “Not only by working together, [but] by doing so in a timely manner to help those in need.”
The decision came after funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits lapsed November 1 amid the government shutdown. Housing and Human Services Director Michelle Davis said 46,649 households in the city of Riverside currently receive SNAP benefits. She said the reallocation could help between 500-700 families.
The city decided to direct the funds to The Salvation Army, according to Davis, because the nonprofit already has a pre-existing food program in downtown Riverside along with viable storage facilities and the ability to quickly gather volunteers to distribute food.
“Their existing partnerships with Feeding America [Riverside and San Bernardino Counties (FARSB)] and current experience managing federal and locally funded food programs make them an ideal partner,” Davis said. “Given the urgency of the situation, a competitive procurement process would delay food distribution, which is not feasible under current circumstances.”
As part of the financial reallocation, the city would require the Salvation Army to verify that recipients are Riverside residents and are either currently receiving SNAP benefits or are federal employees.
According to the staff report, the $100,000 would have assisted at least six seniors, but Davis said the reallocation would not negatively impact those recipients as they would instead receive help through the city’s HOME Investments Partnership program.
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Councilmember Sean Mill said during discussion of the item that he felt the decision was an effective use of the city’s resources, stressing that it would not impact the city’s budget.
“This is during a national crisis and we’re helping to protect some of the most vulnerable residents,” Mill said. “This is going to keep families stable at a time when federal aid paychecks are being interrupted.”
Riverside Public Utilities Assistant General Manager Tracy Sato said the utility was also offering assistance to families during the shutdown. She said SNAP recipients could apply for monthly bill credits and emergency assistance of up to $250 through its Sharing Households Assist Riverside’s Energy (SHARE) program.
Federal employees, she added, could also apply for a 12-month window to repay their bills as well as a one-time payment delay request.
“We’re all hoping that the federal shutdown ends soon, and that everybody will get their paychecks back,” Sato said. “But this would hopefully be that bridge until they can make their utility payments.”
Earlier Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Department of Agriculture was complying with a court order to use emergency funds to partially fund SNAP this month.
“The Department of Agriculture, as for the latest SNAP payment in the judge’s order, put out guidance to states today on how to get that money to recipients of SNAP,” Leavitt said at the press briefing. “But it’s going to take some time.”
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