User:Ah0720/food insecurity

Here's the section of the article "Hunger in the United States" that I've been working on:

College students
A growing body of literature suggests that food insecurity is an emerging concern in college students. Food insecurity prevalence was found to be 43.5% in a systematic review of food insecurity among US students in higher education. This prevalence of food insecurity is higher than that reported in United States national households. Data have been collected to estimate prevalence both nationally as well as at specific institutions (two and four year colleges). For example, a Oregon university reported that 59% of their college students experienced food insecurity where as in a correlational study conducted at the University of Hawaii at Manoa found that 21-24% of their undergraduate students were food-insecure or at risk of food insecurity. Data from a large southwestern university show that 32% of college freshmen, who lived in residence halls, self-reported inconsistent access to food in the past month.

Studies have examined the demographics of students who may be more likely to be affected by food insecurity. It's been found that students of color are more likely to be affected by food insecurities. According to a correlational study examining the undergraduate student population from universities in Illinois, African American students were more likely to report being very-low food secure compared to other racial groups. Similarly, the aforementioned study from the University of Hawaii at Manoa found that their undergraduate students, who identified as Hawaiians, Pacific Islanders, Filipinos, and mixed-race, were more likely to be at increased risk of food insecurity compared to Japanese students. Being a first generation student is another demographic that has been related to increased risk of food insecurity. Other demographics that have been found to increase risk of food insecurity in college students include receiving financial aid, being financially independent, and being employed. Researchers have speculated that students who live at home with their family are less likely to be food insecure, due to spending less on housing expenditures.

College students struggling with access to food are more likely to experience negative effects on their health and academics. As for mental health, according to a correlational study examining college freshmen living in residence halls from a large southwestern university, students who were food-insecure, were more likely to self-report higher levels of depression and anxiety, compared to food-secure students. In terms of academics, college students with food insecurities were more likely to report grade point averages below a 3.0.

Colleges are beginning to take necessary steps to respond to the issue of food insecurity on their campuses. Researchers have suggested that college campuses examine available and accessible food-related resources to help alleviate students’ food insecurity. In 2012, the College and University Food Bank Alliance (CUFBA) identified over 70 campuses where food pantries had been implemented or were under development.

*** THESE WERE JUST RANDOM SENTENCES AT THE END OF THIS SECTION. I'VE MOVED SOME UP WHERE I SAW THAT THEY FIT BUT THESE JUST SEEM LIKE A LIST OF STATEMENTS***

In 2016, the SUNY system had 3.3 million students who were eligible for federal SNAP food benefits, but only about half reported participation in the program.

In a 2017 survey, over half of undergraduates surveyed in 26 states had difficulty accessing food, with between 11 percent and 38 percent of community college students reporting "very low levels of food security, characterized by disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake."

Also in 2017, the California Community College system funded a Hunger Free Campuses program "to develop food pantries and designate staff to connect students with government food subsidies."

By 2019, the College and University Food Bank Alliance had grown to over 700 members  and identified 570 campus food pantries nationwide. On-campus food pantries were available at 70% of State University of New York locations.

The Pacific Standard made a blunt assessment of the lack of political support for food aid to students in June 2019, stating, "Nearly half of America's college students can't afford their next meal. On many campuses, these students—who are getting by on donated meal swipes and sometimes living out of their cars—also face another barrier to food security: The people in power don't believe them."