Lake County supervisors on Tuesday raised concerns about a possible lapse in federal food-assistance payments beginning Nov. 1 and discussed local steps to blunt the impact, including using continuum-of-care funding to procure mobile shelter buses.

"I don't think it'll be a tsunami right away, but I think there's gonna be impacts," Supervisor Sbatte said, urging the county to examine options and consider an agenda item to define the county's role. Sbatte said they would work with CAO Parker and engage the National Association of Counties health steering committee to press the case at higher levels of government.

The discussion followed reports that churches and nonprofits are already supplementing the county's food-distribution network. Supervisor (District 4) said local organizations are coordinating food-donation efforts and that the board had asked staff to meet with gleaners about operations and supply concerns.

Sbatte told the board that the county "received about $1,500,000 for the continuum of care" and that the board set aside $400,000 that could be used to acquire two Dignity buses — full-size buses retrofitted to provide roughly 20 beds and mobile services. Adventist Health flagged the vehicles for the county, and the county's safe-parking efforts are being run by Catholic Charities, Sbatte said. Sbatte described the buses as a possible option for people who cannot get to safe-parking locations because they lack vehicles.

Sbatte also noted secondary economic concerns, saying grocery stores operate on thin margins and that large, free food giveaways may further strain local retailers if employees are displaced. To coordinate advocacy, Sbatte said they plan to speak with NACO staffer Blair Bryant and push beyond contact with a single congressional office to reach leadership in the U.S. House and Senate.

There were no formal votes or binding decisions recorded in the transcript. Supervisors said further discussion will be scheduled with CAO Parker to identify feasible county responses and next steps.