Nearly a quarter of college students went hungry in 2020, according to a new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO).
O GAO Report found that 23 percent of college students — about 3.8 million — experienced food insecurity in 2020. The report found that about 2.2 million food insecure students reported very low food security, meaning they reported it multiple times who ate less food than they should or skipped meals because they didn’t have money to buy food.
The GAO estimated that fewer than two in five food insecure students possibly met the criteria receive benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which helps low-income individuals and families purchase food in stores.
Of those who possibly met the requirements, GAO said 59 percent did not report receiving SNAP benefits.
Representatives Robert “Bobby” Scott (D-Va.) and David Scott (D-Ga.)requested the report after Congress expanded student eligibility for food assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
“Research has long shown that food insecurity affects students’ academic outcomes. Unfortunately, today’s GAO report asserts that many college students are unable to escape hunger while pursuing their educational goals,” Scott said in a statement about the new report.
“Congress must ensure that students eligible for SNAP benefits have access to those benefits and that colleges proactively inform students about the benefits available to them,” he added. “As the cost of attending college continues to rise, Congress can and should do more to support food insecure students and provide them with the resources they need to graduate.”
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