Food Insecurity Poses One More Obstacle Facing 45% of U.S. College Students

photo by Creative Exchange on Upsplash

College students across the country face the realities of housing and food insecurity as they navigate the path to graduation. Temple University Hope Center for College, Community and Justice's annual assessment of college students' needs revealed that in 2019, 17% of students surveyed from 123 universities had experienced housing disparity in the previous year; 45% had experienced food insecurity within the previous month.

Individual states like California and Tennessee have recently taken steps to address this issue, passing legislation to make housing and nutrition programs more accessible for students; however, the College Student Hunger Act of 2019 cosponsored by Elizabeth Warren - which aimed to broaden student eligibility nationwide for the supplemental nutrition assistance program - was shot down by Congress. 

Food insecurity - a problem that encompasses a lack of proper nutrition, as specified by guidelines set forth by the USDA - often goes hand-in-hand with housing disparity. The NCBI recognizes the need for continued research in this area, and the International Journal of  Adolescence and Youth links homelessness experienced by youth to increases in obesity and nutrient deficiencies.

The infographic below, created by the Institute for Children, Poverty, and Homelessness, demonstrates how this trend affects students of all ages, highlighting the continued importance of the National School Lunch Program. More national legislation and nutritional programs are dire necessities for the future and health of our nation's youth.