Disaster CalFresh assistance available to residents affected by Lilac fire

Residents affected by the Lilac fire will be able to apply for special Disaster CalFresh food assistance benefits, the County Health and Human Services Agency announced today.

"San Diego County has been federally and state approved to offer Disaster CalFresh to those affected by the Lilac Fire," said Rick Wanne, HHSA director of eligibility. "Emergency benefit amounts are determined on a case-by-case basis."

Residents who lived or worked in the affected area during the time of the Lilac Fire are eligible to apply for the disaster assistance between Feb. 12 and Feb. 16.

A resident may be eligible for Disaster CalFresh if their household:

• Lived or worked in one of the following zip codes 92028 (Fallbrook), 92003 (Bonsall), 92084 (Vista) or 92057 (Oceanside) and

• Experienced a disruption in income; or had damage to their home or self-employment property; or had disaster-related expenses; and

• Is not already receiving CalFresh food assistance

Because this is special disaster assistance, a face-to-face interview is required and an applicant must apply in person.

Applications are being accepted at the North Coastal Family Resource Center, 1315 Union Plaza Court, Oceanside or the Fallbrook Community Resource Center, 202 W. College St., Fallbrook.

However, residents can go to the Family Resource Center that is most convenient to them and complete the application and interview and their information will be forwarded to the Oceanside or Fallbrook offices that are issuing the emergency benefits.

Many people already receiving CalFresh will have their cases reviewed for any emergency food assistance they may be eligible for and may automatically receive a supplement.

For more information about Disaster CalFresh, including case-specific information for those already receiving CalFresh, call (866) 262-9881.