Students fed through Basic Needs program
CHICO » Food and housing insecurities are a big problem for students not only within the California State University system but nationwide.
At Chico State, the Basic Needs Office, which helps students with food and housing needs, conducted research in 2021 and found that 50 percent of Chico State students are experiencing food insecurities and 14 percent are experiencing housing insecurities, according to Leah Slem, Basic Needs coordinator and manager of Hungry Wildcat food pantry. The event is new but is slated to become an annual event.
This week, the Basic Needs office is offering activities every day to help raise awareness regarding hunger and homelessness. According to a fact sheet from Chico State Basic Needs, the program was established in 2016 and is a collaborative effort of university and community stakeholders with the goal to support student success through the provision of basic needs services for students experiencing poverty. COVID-19 pressures have added to the insecurities. Chico State Basic Needs and Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry are collaborating with other offices around campus to collect much-needed items such as blankets, socks, food, and hygiene products, as well as providing informational sessions. “Students are skipping meals because they can’t afford to buy food,” Slem said. “They are also couch surfing, living in their cars or in unsafe environments.”
Slem said that as higher education costs rise, the amount of financial aid is not increasing to fit students’ needs. “Students are having to make the choice of either purchasing textbooks or buying groceries for the week,” she said.
Chico State houses the Hungry Wildcat Food Pantry, where students, alumni and faculty can obtain free, nutritious food and hygiene products. “Without the Chico community we wouldn’t be able to provide,” Slem said. “50 percent of the donations are from our community.”
Students are struggling to financially be able to afford three meals a day, so Hungry Wildcat Pantry provides students with organic fruits and vegetables from the University Farm, perishable items, shelf items and hygiene products. The pantry serves 4,000 students per year.
“Part of what we are trying to do is normalize the food pantry and combat the stigma around using it,” Slem said.
In order to use the pantry, students or staff have to have a student identification card and Chico State email address. Teams of staff, volunteers and students run the pantry.
One of the activities is a movie and popcorn night, where the documentary film “Hungry to Learn” will be shown. The film focuses on students struggling to find food and housing.
Slem said that without students’ basic needs being met, they won’t be able to
be academically successful. “The goal is to help the student population meet their needs and go on to graduation,” she said.
Higher education costs have risen over the last 20 to 30 years and food costs have also gone up.
“I am very grateful to be a part of this meaningful project at Chico State, “Slem said. “I see students experience hunger and homelessness every day. I’m glad to be part of an event that impacts students. There is a large community support that is supporting students in such a significant way.”
The Hungry Wildcat pantry is located in the Student Services Center at Chico State at the corner of West 2nd Street and Hazel Street.
According to a fact sheet provided by Basic Needs, through the Rapid Re-housing
Partnership Grant, Basic Needs manages a five-bed, short-term emergency shelter and three community houses through Chico Housing Action Team to prevent student homelessness. This year, the Rapid Re-housing Partnership Grant partners will provide an estimated $100,000 in rental assistance to house 50 formerly homeless students. Chico State Basic Needs has sheltered 160 homeless students since 2016.
The complete list of hunger and homelessness awareness events can be found at https://www. csuchico.edu/calendar/ detail/2021-1½1-11-15-national-hunger-and-homelessness-awareness-weeknovember-th-th.shtml. To apply for basic needs assistance, visit https://www. csuchico.edu/basic-needs/.