Food Voucher Program

AAP – Food Samaritans is a non-profit organization that distributes food vouchers monthly to men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS and other chronic illnesses. These individuals must live within the Greater Coachella Valley and meet the following criteria below.

All required documents must be kept on file to adhere to government regulations for annual reporting and continued funding. Failure to do so could jeopardize our granting status and a client’s voucher program eligibility.

Persons who believe they meet all Program Guidelines below and wish to be considered for the program must first fill out an application.

At times we may have a waiting list for services due to budgetary constraints.

NOTE: Any one-year resident of Riverside County’s Coachella Valley with an annual income of less than 150% of the National Poverty Level and has been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS or other chronic illness is qualified to receive AIDS Assistance Program food vouchers.

Currently, AAP – Food Samaritans distributes food vouchers redeemable at local area Stater Brothers Supermarkets, and is equipped to serve up to 500 clients per month.

PROGRAM GUIDELINES

The information noted below are guidelines for program eligibility only. Meeting this eligibility is not a guarantee of acceptance.

Eligibility
Eligibility for nutrition assistance from AAP – Food Samaritans is based on resources, income, local residency, and a certified diagnosis of a chronic illness.

Resources
Households may have $2,250 in countable resources, such as a bank account, IRAs, annuities, etc. or $3,250 in countable resources if at least one person is age 65 or older or is disabled. However, certain resources are not counted, such as a home or motor vehicle of reasonable value. Homes with excessive value or equity will be considered as a countable resource.

Income
Households have to meet gross income tests. The maximum gross annual income is based on 150% of the federal poverty level. Gross income means a household's total, non-excluded income, before any deductions have been made. Gross income includes all taxable and non-taxable income.

2022 Federal Poverty Levels

Local Residency
Clients must live within a 25-mile radius of Palm Springs. Proof of local residency is required in the form of a current lease/rental agreement or property tax bill and copies of utility bills. Postal boxes are not accepted as proof of local residency.

Assistance Limitations
Assistance is limited to one per household for a maximum of 6 to 36 months depending on an individual’s age and needs at the time of eligibility. Re-certification of eligibility may be required by AAP – Food Samaritans at any time.

Eligibility of Dependent Children
In addition to eligible adults, food vouchers will be given in the same amount to children of clients. (The amount of the monthly food vouchers is currently $150.) Children must live with a parent enrolled in the program and their eligibility is tied to that of the parent. All benefits allocated to children will end when the child reaches age 18.

Proof of Need
Assistance is intended to help those who are truly in need of nutritional support and who have no other resources available to draw upon. It is not intended to provide a means to afford other expenditures. Eligibility in the program is based on a needs test which includes a thorough evaluation of current and past spending habits. Program applicants must provide 12 months of financial records for all household members. This includes but is not limited to all bank and financial institution accounts, current payroll stubs, federal income tax returns, social security award letters, utility and cable bills, etc. Applicants will be required to complete an IRS form 4505 (request for copy of income tax return) and an authorization for a credit check. All clients will be required to re-certify their eligibility from time to time.

Drug Policy
Program applicants and existing clients must be drug free and sign an authorization for random drug testing.

Termination of Assistance
AAP – Food Samaritans (AAP) is not an entitlement program. Assistance in the program can be terminated at any time for any reason deemed to be in the best interest of AAP. Failure to accurately disclose or to intentionally mislead AAP into providing assistance is grounds for immediate termination. AAP reserves the right to pursue legal action to recover the cost of benefits distributed as the direct result of fraudulent misrepresentation.