REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
November 15, 2022
FROM
GILBERT RAMOS, Director, Transitional Assistance Department
SUBJECT
Title
Update to General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
Approve an update to the General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions to remove Food Special Need under the special need items.
(Presenter: Gilbert Ramos, Director, 388-0245)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Provide for the Safety, Health and Social Service Needs of County Residents.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This item does not require additional Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). General Relief recipients are eligible to receive maximum payments, which include food costs, based on the Assistance Unit size (number of family members). Adequate appropriation and revenue have been included in the Aid to Indigents 2022-23 budget and will be included in future recommended budgets.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The County’s General Relief Program is administered by the Transitional Assistance Department (TAD) and provides loan assistance to indigent individuals and families in temporary need of housing, food and/or transportation. The program is mandated by and operated per Welfare and Institutions Code (WIC) sections 17000 - 17039.1, which requires Board of Supervisors (Board) approval of the standards of aid for General Relief program recipients as contained in the General Relief Policy Handbook, Chapter A - General Policy and Provisions (Handbook). The proposed update to the Handbook will remove food as a special need item to align with increased General Relief payments that are now inclusive of food needs.
On December 7, 2021 (Item No. 64), the Board approved updates to the Handbook, increasing the program’s maximum basic payment levels effective July 1, 2022 through July 1, 2026. The General Relief payment increases were a result of litigation and part of an executed settlement agreement.
During a recent review of the Handbook, it was determined that references to food as a special need item should be removed to align with the current General Relief payments that are inclusive of basic needs, including food. In addition, many of the County’s General Relief recipients qualify for CalFresh, which provides monthly food benefits to low-income individuals and families.
Upon Board approval, the updates to the Handbook will be effective December 1, 2022.
PROCUREMENT
N/A
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (Adam Ebright, Deputy County Counsel, 387-5455) on October 19, 2022; Finance (John Hallen, Administrative Analyst, 388-0208) on October 3, 2022; and County Finance and Administration (Cheryl Adams, Deputy Executive Officer, 388-0238) on October 25, 2022.