resident, placed as runner-up in a friendly cornhole competition! She brought her athleticism and competitive spirit to a tense showdown against a Housing Navigation client.

During the educational portion, students shared their needs regarding the cost of socializing and how these expenses impact the ability to remain stably housed. The purpose of hearing from them was to create tailored responses for each of their concerns. Some students saved money on outfits by attending our clothing giveaway. Yet another resident shared life hacks to socialize on a budget like ordering water when going out which not only saves money on drinks, but also on rideshare services while preventing DUIs. Furthermore, a grad student talked about the value of hosting house parties vs. going out, since in the former you don’t have to spend on tipping service staff or anything on transportation!
 
We made sure the workshop was oriented towards supporting students’ basic needs for human connection while also providing them with a ton of resources to meet them in a smart manner. We have our Housing Navigation Admin Jeff to thank for devising a list of free/low-cost options in San Diego for college students to have fun on a budget! Immediately after the workshop, opportunities came up to put the concepts into practice. For example, one resident took advantage of the local Art Walk in Little Italy which had zero cost of admission!

50% of all food assistance in San Diego County. The vast majority of CalFresh recipients are employed, working at least one, if not multiple, low-wage jobs to make ends meet. In a county with such a high cost of living, the program is a literal lifeline.
 
Recent changes to federal policy make it mandatory for all CalFresh/SNAP recipients who are considered Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWDs) between the ages of 18 and 64* to work or volunteer at least 80 hours per month to receive continuous food benefits. If they do not, their benefits will be capped at a total of three months within a 36-month period. That’s the equivalent of only one month of food assistance per year over three years.
 
Experts are concerned that this rule change will result in over 665,000 Californians losing CalFresh benefits. For reference, 1 in 4 San Diegans report experiencing food insecurity and 43% of community college students report not having enough to eat. Critics refer to work requirements as red tape traps that disproportionately affect people who may have irregular or limited work hours, or lack access to work opportunities such as gig workers, parents, post-secondary students, and those experiencing homelessness. With the majority of CalFresh recipients already employed, work requirements have little effect on increasing employment rates.

​There is good news for many of our students! Through a special federal waiver known as Local Programs that Increase Employability (LPIEs), the State of California has made every student in every associate's and bachelor’s degree program at every state college and university exempt from the CalFresh work requirements. This means that if you are enrolled part-time at a California Community College, California State University, or University of California in an undergraduate program, and you meet the financial requirements for eligibility, you may receive CalFresh benefits without worrying about meeting the work requirements!
 
California’s leadership has shown us how much they value higher education as a means for improving self-sufficiency and upward mobility. Keeping our students fed by eliminating a major hurdle for federal food assistance is a big first step in ending college hunger.