California has simplified enrollment for college students seeking CalFresh food benefits, the governor's office announced. Undergraduate students enrolled at least half-time in any degree program at the University of California, California State University, or a California Community College now automatically meet initial application requirements.
Before the change, students had to provide documentation of their eligibility for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits—known as CalFresh in California—a process that discouraged eligible students from applying. The change does not create new benefits but makes existing assistance easier to access, the state said.
The state expects the change will bring over 200,000 additional eligible students into the program, providing more than a quarter-billion dollars in additional food assistance. The announcement was made at the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, where Governor Gavin Newsom discussed the changes with students.
A $1.5 million outreach campaign called "Full Carts" will inform students about CalFresh eligibility. Technology companies Instacart and Snap have also committed to support outreach on their platforms.
California currently serves nearly 5.2 million individuals per month through CalFresh in more than 3.1 million households, the state said. Governor Newsom's administration has also implemented related programs including School Meals for All, which guarantees free school meals to all public school students, and SUN Bucks, which provides summer food benefits.