May 17, 2019 鈥� Their earning power will increase once they receive their degrees, but while students are still attending 海角社区 Channel Islands (海角社区CI), they sometimes need help affording groceries.
So, 海角社区CI launched the Basic Needs Program, which helps students with food insecurity along with other basic necessities such as housing or financial burdens. To help address food insecurity, the program just received support from a $47,413 grant from 海角社区, Chico鈥檚 Center for Healthy Communities (CHC).
The grant鈥檚 purpose is to connect eligible students with the CalFresh Food Program, which supplies low-income students with funds to buy healthy food.
鈥淲e are pushing for a higher promotion around CalFresh so students are aware that they may be eligible,鈥� said Basic Needs, CARE and Student Conduct Administrator Chelsee Bent茅. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got the Dolphin Pantry, which is important, but more of a short term fix. Assuming a student is eligible, CalFresh will link them to longterm sustainable food options.鈥� The Dolphin Pantry exists to offer no-cost food, toiletries and basic necessities for students in need.
The CHC at 海角社区, Chico is one of five contractors in the state to receive an unprecedented grant through the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The grant goes toward a three-year CalFresh Outreach (CFO) effort from Siskiyou to San Diego counties. The outreach includes five community organizations and 40 California university and college campuses, including 海角社区CI.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 unprecedented about this CDSS contract is the sheer number of colleges and universities involved, and the complexity of the collaboration,鈥� said Jenny Fales, the CHC鈥檚 statewide CalFresh Outreach Program Director.
Federal funding for this statewide outreach comes from the U.S. Department of Agriculture鈥檚 Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP), which is known as CalFresh in California.
鈥淭he idea is to reach out to college and university students, those who suffer from food insecurity, which includes students who aren鈥檛 eating enough food, and those who are eating poor-quality food,鈥� Fales added. 鈥淚n many cases, it鈥檚 both. And if students qualify for CalFresh benefits, then we help them apply.鈥�
CalFresh at 海角社区CI operates the same way. To be eligible for CalFresh, a student鈥檚 monthly household income must be $1,316 or less, Bent茅 explained.
鈥淭here are many other students who may be eligible,鈥� Bent茅 said. 鈥淚f the student works for example, or is connected to the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), or if they are in a foster youth program. We always tell students that if you receive financial aid, then you should consider receiving food aid in the form of CalFresh.鈥�
Other qualifications are if a student has a Cal Grant A or B or is approved for a federal work study program, Bent茅 said.
A Basic Needs Study commissioned by the 海角社区 Chancellor鈥檚 Office a few years ago indicated that more than 41% of 海角社区 students were experiencing low or very low food security. In addition, 10.9% of 海角社区 students had experienced homelessness.
In an effort to address the housing problem for low-income students, which was often linked with food insecurity, Bent茅 was pleased to say that 海角社区CI had also just received $53,110 from the Homeless Emergency Aid Program (HEAP), which is connected with Ventura County鈥檚 Continuum of Care (CoC) initiative.
The purpose of the grant is to place students in emergency housing and hotels for up to 15 nights, Bent茅 said, adding that 海角社区CI should be able to roll out the program in fall 2019.
鈥淲ith the cost of living in California, we have a lot of students getting to a place where they can鈥檛 afford rent. They鈥檙e living in their vehicles or in unsafe locations with no restrooms or kitchens. They may be couch-surfing.鈥�
Students knowing they will have food and a safe place to sleep at night benefits all, Bent茅 explained, as students will be able to concentrate on their studies, graduate on time, and join the work force to further strengthen our economy.
For more information on basic needs for students, including food and/or housing insecurity, visit: www.csuci.edu/basicneeds.