Yes, that SFHSA letter you got is real
If you’re on CalFresh, you’ve likely worried about whether you’ll get your food assistance on time due to Trump’s shutdown.
One bit of good news: The USDA, sued by California and nearly two dozen other states, will fund half of the SNAP benefits they’re supposed to in response to a court order. So even if your assistance may be delayed and reduced, you will get some of your November SNAP money.
Another bit of good news: Prior to the USDA’s announcement, Mayor Lurie announced that, in conjunction with a nonprofit run by one of his fellow billionaires, the SFHSA would send out letters to CalFresh recipients in the City with a link to request a grocery gift card to help bridge the gap. This is called the CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program and it is only for San Francisco residents who are on CalFresh.
You may have already received your letter. The envelope looks like this:
Front of the envelope. We’ve redacted all identifying information from this example.
Back of the envelope.
This is a different envelope from what CalFresh communications normally come in, but it is real and legitimate and you have until December 31 to request your gift card.
Your letter will look something like this:
You have two options for how to receive your grocery gift card:
Request a virtual gift card. If you choose this option, you won’t receive a physical gift card, but can use the virtual card immediately in online shopping.
Request a physical gift card to be mailed to you. You’ll have to wait “about 5–7 business days” for the card to arrive before you can use it.
Whichever way you choose to receive the gift card, you can request it online or call 628-313-5351 to request it over the phone. The letter includes your personal activation number, and the activation process will include some additional verification checks—though the SFHSA website says “Clients will never be asked to give their Social Security number or bank account information to access their card.”
Note that, contrary to previous reporting, there is no QR code, only a link and an activation number, each of which you must type in.
We thank Mayor Lurie for making this stopgap happen for his constituents, and we hope that either a repeat will not be needed next month or that the organizations involved will repeat the effort as long as it is needed.
In the meantime, see our previous blog post for more resources to help get through this Trump shutdown.
Resources
CalFresh Emergency Grocery Card Program, SF Human Services Agency, 2025-11
SNAP/CalFresh cards won't refill on time this November. Now what?, Indivisible SF, 2025-10-28
SNAP benefits will restart, but will be half the normal payment and delayed, NPR, 2025-11-03
When SNAP benefits will arrive is still in flux. Here's what communities are doing to fill the gap, NPR, 2025-11-04
Mayor Lurie, Board of Supervisors, Crankstart Partner to Support San Francisco Families as Federal Government Shutdown Threatens to Interrupt SNAP Benefits, SF Mayor’s Office, 2025-11-29
San Francisco Will Cover SNAP Benefits for November Amid Federal Shutdown, KQED, 2025-10-29