During a webinar in June 2024, California Policy Lab researchers shared findings from the report: Filling the Gap: CalFresh Eligibility Among University of California and California Community College Students. This report is the first of its kind to link college enrollment and financial aid application data and then compare it to CalFresh eligibility rules in order to create more precise estimates of how many students are likely eligible for CalFresh. Through this process, the research team also pinpointed the eligibility criteria and program rules that appear to have the biggest impact in determining eligibility.
Background: CalFresh is California’s version of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also commonly known as Food Stamps. College students face a unique set of eligibility rules that advocates suggest may deter students from applying or staying enrolled. In recent years, California has prioritized enrolling more college students into CalFresh (for example, by funding Basic Needs Centers that help students to enroll), but these efforts have been hampered by a lack of understanding about how many students are eligible, and of that group, how many enroll. To address this knowledge gap, the California Policy Lab partnered with the California Community College (CCC) Chancellor’s Office, the University of California Office of the President (UCOP), the California Department of Social Services (CDSS), and the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to build a linked database of de-identified, student-level administrative data on college enrollment, financial aid, and CalFresh participation. Learn more about the Students Support Initiative.