More than one million Californians lack access to safe drinking water. When households that participate in CalFresh are forced to spend limited grocery dollars to purchase bottled water, they have less to spend on the food they need. Recognizing this dire situation, the state launched in March 2022 the CalFresh Safe Drinking Water Pilot, which provides an additional $50 in CalFresh benefits per month to around 3,000 households in select zip codes that lack access to safe drinking water.

While long-term solutions are necessary, California communities need access to safe drinking water right now. A one-time allocation in the state budget will keep the existing pilot from ending too soon and ensure it continues to reach existing participants, while also creating a path for eventual expansion to additional households.

Sign onto our letter to call on state budget leaders to extend the CalFresh Water Pilot and avoid cutting benefits for CalFresh households harmed by the lack of safe drinking water. The deadline to add your name is March 6, 2024.

You can read the full letter here.