Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Social Safety Net and Behavioral Health Systems Transformation

The Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Social Safety Net and Behavioral Health Systems Transformation met on October 23, 2026, to review local impacts of HR1 and efforts to preserve access to food and healthcare. County staff and community partners reported progress on client outreach and data sharing: the County sent MOAs to partner organizations to enable access to clients’ medical renewal and recertification information, and staff are scheduling onboarding discussions. The chair requested an update on MOA progress within 30 days. Partners described declining benefit enrollment and rising demand for food and healthcare; County staff reported continued outreach to people affected by CalFresh work requirements, with about 1,900 people still having lost benefits after follow-up efforts. The subcommittee also requested ongoing data on medical enrollment and emergency-department use, including uninsured patients. No motions or votes were reported.

Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest requested $2 million from the County over two years to help maintain preventive care for residents affected by coverage disruptions. Feeding San Diego proposed investment in sustained food sourcing, including drivers, vehicles, and cold storage, while the San Diego Food Bank requested an additional County grant for food purchases and capacity building among nonprofit partners; no specific amount was stated for either food request. A philanthropic representative reported $74 million in additional regional commitments and $6.5 million committed toward health coverage subsidies for legal permanent residents, and proposed a $10 million County contribution to extend that support. These were requests and proposals, not approved awards or spending actions at this meeting.