Three in five college students experience some form of basic needs insecurity. The good news is that many of those students qualify for the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). The bad news is that only about 43% of likely eligible students access SNAP.
Research shows that students who don’t have adequate access to food do worse in their classes. The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice recently found that encouraging students to use basic needs supports makes them more likely to pass developmental education courses. Similarly, students enrolled in CalFresh, California’s SNAP program, have higher rates of retention than their campus average. Increasing SNAP enrollment at your college can help students with food insecurity get their credentials.
This guide provides promising solutions to common barriers you can use to help increase student SNAP participation on your campus.