The County and 211 San Diego launched a new virtual one‑stop shop, called the WorkReady Hub, designed to connect people to resources to meet newly reinstated federal work requirements to get or maintain CalFresh food assistance.
The new federal rules under HR 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” affect about 93,500 San Diegans receiving CalFresh benefits. They require those recipients to complete 80 hours per month of work, education, volunteering or job training to get or keep their benefits.
“It’s a new online resource designed to help people understand these new federal requirements and access the support they need,” Board Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe said. “This reflects a broader belief that government should help people navigate these difficult moments, not create more barriers.”
“We’ve organized the information in Employment Services, Volunteer Programs and Educational Services,” said 211 San Diego President and CEO Bill York. “You can search the entire database or search the area or select to narrow the field.”
York encouraged community organizations to update or submit their program listings on 211sandiego.org to ensure the database is current and comprehensive.
“For current CalFresh customers, this rule will apply during their next renewal,” said County Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Health and Human Services, Elizabeth Hernández, PhD. “The WorkReady Hub, backed by an incredible team will help connect people to the resources they need to find qualifying programs to meet these hours.”
The majority of the County’s 372,000 CalFresh recipients will not see changes to their benefits. The federal requirements apply to adults ages 18 – 64 who do not have a child under age 14 in the home and are physically and mentally able to work.
“Whether you call the Access Customer Service Call Center, visit a Family Resource Center, dial 2-1-1 or go online, there’s no wrong door,” County Interim Director of Self Sufficiency Alberto Banuelos, PhD, said. “We will meet you where you are and help you find the resources you need.”
CalFresh recipients should do these three things: