Dream Center offers 3 free meals per day with uncertainty over SNAP funding
The Dream Center is expanding services for Los Angeles-area residents who remain in limbo as funding for a key part of the nation’s social safety net remains uncertain.
Meals will be offered at the Echo Park location Monday through Friday, including breakfast (6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m.); lunch (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.); and dinner (4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.). Weekends meals include breakfast (7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.); lunch (12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.); and dinner (5 p.m. to 6 p.m.).
The center’s food pantry is open 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday at 2301 Bellevue Ave.
More than 1 million California households rely on SNAP benefits that are threatened by a government shutdown with no immediate resolution in sight. The ability of many beneficiaries in the nation’s most populous state to buy groceries could depend largely on the outcome of the political dispute in Washington, D.C.
In the near term, a key ruling from a judge blocked the Trump administration from ceasing to pay SNAP benefits during the U.S. government shutdown. Even though the judge said benefits cannot be suspended for the first time in SNAP’s 61-year history, many beneficiaries are likely to face delays in getting the debit cards they use to buy groceries reloaded. That can take one to two weeks, so it’s likely too late to get funds on cards in the first days of November.
On Tuesday, the matter was further clouded when President Trump appeared to threaten SNAP benefits unless Democrats voted to reopen the government, despite the court order. Press secretary Karoline Levitt later said the administration continues to pay for SNAP using contingency funds.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture had planned to freeze SNAP payments starting Nov. 1 because of a lapse in funds during the government shutdown.
In California, a lapse in benefits could affect about 1.75 million households, about 13% of households, according to 2023 figures. In Los Angeles County, about 15% of households relied on SNAP benefits in 2023. Imperial County in southeastern California had the highest percentage of households on SNAP benefits (28%).
Both Los Angeles and San Bernardino (17%) counties had higher percentages of households receiving SNAP benefits in 2023 than national averages.
Click here for national data.
Food banks in the Los Angeles area
Click the links below for a county-by-county list of food banks in Southern California. The counties also offer information on how to donate.
Southern Californians also can call 211 for nonprofit information and services.
Meals for seniors
The following programs offer meals and other resources for seniors in Southern California.