October 18, 2022

Today, 85 organizations representing a diverse coalition of advocates, students, institutions of higher education, associations, research organizations, and service providers that work to combat college student hunger released a public letter to the Biden-Harris Administration calling for bold actions to eliminate systemic barriers to food security among students in higher education.

The letter follows the convening of the historic White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health on September 28, 2022, and release of the accompanying National Strategy. This strategy acknowledged that restrictions on college students accessing SNAP are "out of date" and identified ways that federal agencies can collaborate to increase SNAP enrollment. Today's coalition letter articulates steps that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Education can take, working together, to build on the National Strategy and significantly reduce student food insecurity.

At a time when one in three college students do not have enough to eat, bold action from Congress and the Administration is urgently needed to ensure more eligible students qualify for and enroll in SNAP, and students have access to affordable food so they can focus on completing a college degree or credential.