"California's College Students Bracing for Food Insecurity as Government Shutdown Takes Hold"
With the federal government shutdown looming, hundreds of thousands of California college students are facing a daunting prospect: losing access to food benefits that have been their lifeline since 2022. The CalFresh program, which provides assistance to low-income individuals and families, is set to be cut off on November 1, leaving many students scrambling to make ends meet.
At San Jose State University, Roberto Sandoval, a CalFresh recipient, is among those who will feel the pinch. "I don't know how I'm going to afford groceries," Sandoval said. "I have to eat cheaply and ask for help from family members or the food pantry on campus." For Sandoval, the benefits allow him to make healthier choices, such as opting for more nutritious meals rather than relying on convenience foods like Cup of Noodles.
The university's Wellness Center has set up a system for students in need to request assistance, but officials are bracing for the worst. "We're still waiting to see the full effects of these changes," said Catherine Voss Plaxton, Associate Vice President for Health, Wellness, and Student Services. "We're doing our best to be prepared, but it's a challenging situation."
The impact will be felt far beyond San Jose State. According to data from the California Policy Lab, 276,000 community college students received CalFresh benefits last year, with similar numbers expected in the state university system. Researchers warn that losing these benefits could push students off course, unable to afford basic necessities like food and textbooks.
Campus officials are scrambling to find solutions. Grocery gift cards and emergency grants have been set up to help students in need, while dining facilities are exploring ways to offer expanded meal support. "We really don't want to see students taken off course because they can't afford their basic needs," said Johanna Lacoe, Research Director for California Policy Lab at UC Berkeley. "We want them to be able to achieve their goals and complete their degrees."
As the shutdown drags on, community members are being called upon to step in and support their fellow students. Donations are being sought for the Spartan Food Pantry, which is already facing increased demand. "We're encouraging anyone who remembers what it was like to struggle as a college student to come together and support this community," said Voss Plaxton.
For Sandoval and countless others like him, the stakes are high. Losing access to CalFresh benefits could mean struggling to make ends meet, and ultimately dropping out of school. As the government shutdown enters its third week, one thing is clear: California's college students will be feeling the pinch for a long time to come.
With the federal government shutdown looming, hundreds of thousands of California college students are facing a daunting prospect: losing access to food benefits that have been their lifeline since 2022. The CalFresh program, which provides assistance to low-income individuals and families, is set to be cut off on November 1, leaving many students scrambling to make ends meet.
At San Jose State University, Roberto Sandoval, a CalFresh recipient, is among those who will feel the pinch. "I don't know how I'm going to afford groceries," Sandoval said. "I have to eat cheaply and ask for help from family members or the food pantry on campus." For Sandoval, the benefits allow him to make healthier choices, such as opting for more nutritious meals rather than relying on convenience foods like Cup of Noodles.
The university's Wellness Center has set up a system for students in need to request assistance, but officials are bracing for the worst. "We're still waiting to see the full effects of these changes," said Catherine Voss Plaxton, Associate Vice President for Health, Wellness, and Student Services. "We're doing our best to be prepared, but it's a challenging situation."
The impact will be felt far beyond San Jose State. According to data from the California Policy Lab, 276,000 community college students received CalFresh benefits last year, with similar numbers expected in the state university system. Researchers warn that losing these benefits could push students off course, unable to afford basic necessities like food and textbooks.
Campus officials are scrambling to find solutions. Grocery gift cards and emergency grants have been set up to help students in need, while dining facilities are exploring ways to offer expanded meal support. "We really don't want to see students taken off course because they can't afford their basic needs," said Johanna Lacoe, Research Director for California Policy Lab at UC Berkeley. "We want them to be able to achieve their goals and complete their degrees."
As the shutdown drags on, community members are being called upon to step in and support their fellow students. Donations are being sought for the Spartan Food Pantry, which is already facing increased demand. "We're encouraging anyone who remembers what it was like to struggle as a college student to come together and support this community," said Voss Plaxton.
For Sandoval and countless others like him, the stakes are high. Losing access to CalFresh benefits could mean struggling to make ends meet, and ultimately dropping out of school. As the government shutdown enters its third week, one thing is clear: California's college students will be feeling the pinch for a long time to come.
The real world is all about making tough choices and budgeting, right? And let's be real, if they can't even afford basic necessities like food, maybe they're not cut out for college in the first place. It's like, a wake-up call or something...
this is so worrying! I can only imagine how stressful it must be for these students who are already juggling studies with finances. It's heartbreaking to think that they might have to choose between buying groceries and textbooks... like, what's the point of graduating if you can't even afford to eat? 
We need more of this kind of kindness and empathy, you know? 
this is so unfair like what's gonna happen to all these kids who need calfresh to survive on campus food banks and grocery gift cards won't cut it lol my aunt used to struggle back in 2015 when her sister was in college she barely made ends meet let alone pay for textbooks 
it's like the government shutdown is literally putting a noose around the necks of these students, making it impossible for them to succeed.
. What if these students can’t get help in time? What if they have to drop out of school because they can’t afford basic necessities? 
It’s just so worrying...
this is so unfair! These students are already on thin ice trying to balance books with classes, food, and everything else... losing CalFresh would just push them over the edge 
. We gotta come together as a community to help these students out 
, donate to the food pantry, and spread awareness about this issue 
. We can make a difference, let's do this! 
like what r we even supposed to do? i no some ppl say gov shutdown is unavoidable but that don't make it better 
i heard its a legit place where students can get help
their whole education is getting derailed just because of some government shutdown 
what can we do to help tho? 
and maybe even start somethin like food banks on all campuses lol imagine havin free food on campus like that 
it's not just about food, it's about being able to focus on their studies without financial stress weighing them down. i mean, think about it, they're already struggling to balance school and life, and then you take away their lifeline? it's unfair and it's gonna have long term effects on these kids. we need to step up and support our students, that's what colleges are for