Gov. Andrew Cuomo recently announced new measures expanding eligibility for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to up to 75,000 community college students across the state who are enrolled in vocational classes.
These actions also include asking USDA to allow elderly and disabled New Yorkers to apply for SNAP using an abridged application to make it easier to receive benefits.
In April and May of this year, 44% of college students at two-year colleges reported being food insecure and 38% of students at four-year institutions reported experiencing food insecurity, according to The Hope Center.
The new measures taken by New York State will allow college students who are enrolled at least half the time in a “career or technical education program” to access SNAP without the previous provisions, which required students to work 20 hours per week or to be caring for a child in order to qualify for SNAP.