Lived Experience: A Case for Removing Barriers to SNAP for College Students
When I was in college, I didn’t have a dining budget. My parents didn’t put funds onto a college meal plan card so that I could eat lunch at the dining hall, and I didn’t have any sort of college savings set aside. I had SNAP.
I grew up in poverty, and my parents never made it above lower-middle class, so I was mostly on my own through all three of my collegiate attempts. First, in Portland, Oregon, I worked as a barista to get through one semester of part-time classes at Portland Community College. SNAP helped me feed myself during this time, but life had other plans for me, and I dropped out after my first semester.
The second time I went to college, I was in the early stages of substance abuse recovery. I didn’t think I would qualify for SNAP at this time, as I was living with roommates and we often shared food. The stress of working full-time to support myself while going to college full-time was not sustainable, and I once again dropped out of college, this time after three semesters.
Then, after I gave birth to my first child, I knew I wanted to break the cycle of poverty — for him. I went back to college during the days while my partner cared for our child, and at night while my partner worked in food service, I would take over kid duties. This meant doing homework while nursing or while my son slept. It was a very hard time. However, when we first found out that I was pregnant, the doctor’s office provided us with information about Medicaid, and when we went to apply, we also found out we qualified for SNAP and WIC. We eagerly signed up for these programs and were able to keep our cupboards stocked and our fridge full while I continued taking classes.
If it weren’t for SNAP, I likely would have had to drop my classes and go back to work to be able to afford to feed us. Times were still tough, date nights were rare, and luxuries were nonexistent, but we got by and never went hungry. I graduated from college in 2016 – the first of my family to do so. I’m eternally grateful to programs like SNAP, Medicaid and WIC for the support I received that made this accomplishment possible.
These experiences are not unique to me.
One in four undergraduate college students and one in three graduate students is a parent. In 2020 alone, about 3.8 million college students – or 23 percent – experienced food insecurity, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s analysis of student data from the Department of Education’s 2019-2020 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). Of those students who were food insecure, 2.2 million had “very low food security,” reporting multiple instances of skipping meals or eating less for financial reasons.
Food insecurity causes adversity for first-generation college students, who are often already facing more than our fair share of challenges to continue their education. It leads to mental and physical health issues and negatively impacts academic performance, making it challenging to finish a degree. Unfortunately, accessing SNAP is a challenge in and of itself for these students.
There is a lack of information accessible to students about how to apply, and many students feel that there is a stigma attached to participating in SNAP. In a recent research brief, the Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) shared findings from interviews with first-generation college students, noting that several shared similar experiences of “not knowing where to start when interacting with public benefits and university systems because they had no one to guide them.”
Student eligibility requirements only make matters worse. The “work-to-eat” requirement forces students who do not meet another exemption for SNAP eligibility to either participate in a work-study program or maintain other employment for at least 20 hours per week. This requirement places an additional burden on students participating in SNAP that their food-secure peers do not have to carry.
To reduce inequities on college campuses and increase food security among students, we need a multifaceted approach. We need to reduce the stigma surrounding nutrition assistance programs like SNAP. Students need better access to information about the application process and eligibility requirements. Perhaps most crucial: we need an end to complex eligibility rules for students, which can be accomplished through the Enhance Access to SNAP Act, which would remove the “work-to-eat” requirements for students without another exemption. Through this legislation, Congress could help put an end to food insecurity for college students.