SAN DIEGO, CA (November 4, 2025)— Today, the Board of Supervisors approved an item brought forward by Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe to explore the creation of a Safety Net Bridge Program in response to recent federal policy changes from H.R. 1 that threaten access to health and food assistance for thousands of San Diego County residents.

The Safety Net Bridge Program would be a collaboration of community-based strategies to ensure residents who lose benefits under new federal eligibility rules can continue to access essential health, food, and social services.

“Families shouldn’t lose access to healthcare or food simply because of changes in federal policy,” said Vice Chair Montgomery Steppe. “The Safety Net Bridge Program is about protecting our most vulnerable residents by keeping a lifeline of services open — no matter what happens in Washington.”

The proposal will conduct a feasibility study to:

• Expand healthcare access by exploring partnerships with local healthcare providers to offer no-cost primary care, creating Transitional Access Clinics located at County Live Well Centers.
• Provide same-day access to prescription medication at no cost and explore funding to sustain volunteer-driven medical services.
• Develop Continuing Medical Education (CME) opportunities to attract local medical professionals to volunteer at community clinics while earning clinical hours.
• Strengthen food access by partnering with local food recovery programs to reduce food waste and deliver fresh, healthy food directly to residents through coordinated food distribution and cold storage expansion.

Together, these efforts would create a bridge for residents navigating loss of Medi-Cal, CalFresh, or other safety net programs beginning early next year— ensuring continuity of care and preventing gaps that lead to costly emergency visits or worsening health outcomes.

“This program strengthens our local safety net — not just for today’s challenges, but for the future,” said Montgomery Steppe. “It ensures that every resident, regardless of income or insurance status, can access the care and nutrition they need to live well.”

Following today’s approval, County staff will report back within 45 days with  preliminary findings of the feasibility study, including cost analyses and funding options. The Chief Administrative Officer will then present an implementation plan within 90 days identifying one-time and ongoing costs and sustainable funding sources to launch the program.