Hunger-Free College Campuses

College hunger was a problem before the pandemic. According to the most recent data, 37% of public university students in Massachusetts experience food insecurity. The pandemic has made it possible for college students to qualify for temporary relief, such as expanded SNAP eligibility, but institutional challenges to accessing resources remain. 

The Hunger Free-Campus Coalition and bill sponsors Sen. Harriette Chandler, Rep. Andy Vargas and Rep. Mindy Domb have introduced a bill titled: An Act Establishing the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative (H.1293/S.835) which would provide capacity, guidance, and funding to public colleges and not-for-profit institutions of higher education take steps to alleviate food insecurity on campus. The Department of Higher Education will establish the Hunger-Free Campus Initiative, which will be available to all public higher education institutions.

As part of a package using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, the legislature committed to $3.7 million toward providing Hunger-Free Campus grants, but legislation is still necessary to create the support needed to successfully implement this initiative. 

This bill would encourage colleges to become a Hunger-Free Campus by: 

1. Designating a college staff person as a point of contact. 

2. Establishing a hunger-free campus taskforce

3. Notifying students that receive need-based financial aid of their potential eligibility for federal nutrition assistance such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

4. Hosting/participating in at least one hunger awareness event annually. 

5. Assessing the need for on-campus food distribution, access to an off-site food pantry, or the establishment of an on-campus food pantry.

• In February 2024, this bill was reported favorably out of the committee on Higher Education and has been referred to the committee on House Ways and Means.
• On September 18th 2023, the Joint Committee on Higher Education heard An Act establishing the Massachusetts Hunger-Free Campus Initiative. Leran Minc, Project Bread’s Assistant Director of Policy, testified in front of the committee and Project Bread submitted written testimony. Read more about it here. 

• In the FY2024 budget, the Massachusetts Legislature approved $1 million to provide grants to address food insecurity among students. Legislation is still required to make this program permanent and establish technical assistance for colleges under the program.