Emergency Assistance Network calls for urgent aid in Santa Clara County

By AI, Created 5:20 PM UTC, May 19, 2026, /AGP/ – The Emergency Assistance Network will hold a press conference Wednesday in Sunnyvale to warn that federal cutbacks and rising costs could push more Santa Clara County families into hunger and homelessness. The seven-member nonprofit coalition is seeking emergency donations to backfill rental aid and food support as local safety-net demand surges.

Why it matters: - Santa Clara County nonprofits say basic needs support is under strain just as more households are struggling to pay for housing, food and other essentials. - The Emergency Assistance Network says emergency aid can help prevent evictions, homelessness and food insecurity before families hit a crisis. - The coalition is asking corporations, foundations, philanthropies and individual donors to help fill an urgent funding gap.

What happened: - The Emergency Assistance Network will hold a press conference Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at Sunnyvale Community Services in Sunnyvale. - The network includes seven Santa Clara County organizations: South County Community Services, Sacred Heart Community Service, The Salvation Army, Sunnyvale Community Services, Community Services Agency, LifeMoves and West Valley Community Services. - United Way Bay Area supports the network. - The coalition says the event is a call for community action in response to severe budget cutbacks and rising economic pressure.

The details: - The network says 1 in 4 households in Santa Clara County struggles to meet basic needs including housing, childcare, food, healthcare and transportation. - The coalition says 187,930 people in the county are experiencing food insecurity. - The coalition says 100,933 households spend 50% or more of their income on housing. - The group says HR1, also called the “Big, Beautiful Bill,” will reduce access to healthcare, food assistance and rental assistance. - The network says the federal changes will hit parents with unstable or low-wage jobs, seniors on fixed incomes and people with disabilities hardest. - The coalition says stricter rules and more administrative burdens will make safety-net programs harder to use for low-income families, immigrants, refugees and communities of color. - The network says Measure A provides only partial relief and cannot offset the broader funding losses. - The group is seeking $900,000 for financial emergency assistance to help prevent eviction and homelessness. - The coalition is also seeking $800,000 for food operations to serve more new families. - The network says it is working to secure a $1 million matching grant for donations. - Donations can be made to individual organizations or through United Way Bay Area.

Between the lines: - The coalition is warning that local nonprofits are absorbing more pressure as federal support tightens and housing costs stay high. - West Valley Community Services says 15,000 people in its service area qualify for help, and the agency is reaching nearly half of them. - EAN leaders argue the network functions as the county’s last line of defense for families at risk of falling through the cracks. - The press conference is also aimed at widening support beyond government funding, which the coalition says is no longer enough on its own.

What’s next: - EAN is seeking immediate donations to help cover rental assistance and food costs. - The coalition says additional demand is likely to grow in the months ahead as federal cuts take effect in 2026. - EAN wants more support from corporations, foundations, philanthropies and other community partners to strengthen the county’s safety net.

The bottom line: - Santa Clara County’s emergency food and housing network says the gap between need and available support is widening fast, and it needs new funding now to keep more families housed and fed.