California Invested In Getting More Students Access To Free Food. But CalFresh Is Still Struggling On Outreach

Campuses are hiring students and other young adults to talk to students about CalFresh in person and online. The peer approach appears to be working, but advocates say students who share a negative experience with the application can discourage fellow students from applying.

“Counties should do better,” said State Senator Nancy Skinner.

A big part of the problem is that there’s a flood of CalFresh applications from college students in the fall, and not enough county staff to handle them. Skinner used her position as chair of the senate budget committee to give counties funds last year to improve the process, including hiring more staff.

“We need to do everything we can to ensure that every Californian who is eligible for food support can receive it and receive it efficiently and fast,” she said.

Skinner says a state working group she helped start will keep an eye on the process to see if it’s getting any better.

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