Safety-net providers strained as demand spikes

Seven Santa Clara County nonprofits that make up the Emergency Assistance Network said on May 20 that they are seeking $1.7 million in emergency support as requests for food and housing help rise across the South Bay. The coalition, coordinated by United Way Bay Area, said it needs $900,000 to prevent evictions and homelessness and another $800,000 for food assistance. San José Spotlight reported on May 21 that providers said demand has returned to levels seen during the COVID-19 pandemic, while funding from federal and county sources has fallen. The network includes Community Services Agency, LifeMoves, Sacred Heart Community Service, The Salvation Army, South City Community Services, Sunnyvale Community Services and West Valley Community Services. United Way Bay Area says the Emergency Assistance Network has operated in Santa Clara County for more than three decades as a zip-code-based safety net for residents facing eviction, utility shutoffs and hunger. (sanjosespotlight.com) ### Why are these nonprofits asking for money now? May 20 was the date the Emergency Assistance Network made its public appeal for donations, saying demand is increasing while resources are shrinking. KRON reported that the request comes after government funding cuts and amid higher costs for food, fuel and housing. San José Spotlight said providers described the strain as a return to pandemic-era demand. (kron4.com) United Way Bay Area said in a March 10, 2025 release that $117 million in federal emergency food and shelter funding nationwide, including $2.5 million intended for the Bay Area, had been placed on an indefinite pause in Washington. Laura Escobar, vice president of safety net services at United Way Bay Area, said at the time that partner agencies were counting on that support to keep families fed and housed. (kron4.com) ### What does the $1.7 million request cover? The largest share, $900,000, is intended for eviction prevention and homelessness avoidance. KRON said the remaining $800,000 would go to food assistance. The network said the money would help agencies keep local families in their homes and maintain access to groceries and other basic needs. (uwba.org) United Way Bay Area’s 2024 Emergency Assistance Network impact report said the coalition’s work includes financial assistance, homelessness prevention, food assistance, referrals and case management. That report said the network aims to ensure that low-income residents in every Santa Clara County zip code can reach basic safety-net services. ### How many people are already relying on this system? (kron4.com) One in four households in Santa Clara County needs help with housing, child care, health care or food, according to the figures cited in the coalition’s May 20 appeal. KRON attributed that estimate to the Emergency Assistance Network’s outreach around the fundraising push. (uwba.org) United Way Bay Area said in a 2022 overview that Emergency Assistance Network agencies provide financial assistance to about 8,000 households a year and that network food pantries provide more than 8 million meals to over 55,000 Santa Clara County residents. Those figures predate the current appeal, but they show the scale of the system now seeking added support. ### Which groups are seeing the pressure on the ground? (kron4.com) Sacred Heart Community Service, one of the seven agencies, says it serves tens of thousands of families each year and operates one of the largest sites in the Santa Clara County Homelessness Prevention System. Its volunteer page says 600 to 800 households a day come in for groceries and clothing. West Valley Community Services, another member, says it provides a food market, a mobile pantry, emergency rent and utility assistance, case management and other support in Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos and West San Jose. (uwba.org) Its CARE program says it serves low-income families and seniors with rent, utility and food help. ### Where can families turn next? Santa Clara County residents can seek aid through the Emergency Assistance Network agencies assigned by zip code, according to county and United Way Bay Area information. (sacredheartcs.org) The county says the network provides one-time help with rent, mortgage payments, utility bills and food to prevent homelessness and hunger. (wvcommunityservices.org) The next step in the coalition’s appeal is direct outreach to donors and residents through the seven member agencies and United Way Bay Area. As of May 22, those organizations were still directing people to contact individual agencies or United Way Bay Area for assistance or contributions. (kron4.com) (desj.santaclaracounty.gov)