Blake Turpin, a recent college graduate and a member of Generation Z, shared his struggles to purchase nutritious food due to his low-income background. A study conducted by Purdue University discovered that in the first half of 2022, Gen Z households were doubly likely to experience food insecurity compared to their Millennial, Gen X, and Boomer counterparts. Around 30% of Gen Z households reported seeking food aid from pantries, churches, or charities in the past month, compared to 8% of Boomer households.

The White House Conference on Hunger, Food, and Nutrition revealed widespread support for initiatives to offer free school meals and boost funding for the Older Americans Act’s nutrition programs. Conversely, the challenge of food insecurity among Gen Z adults remains largely unaddressed. The primary question is how the national strategy to eradicate US hunger by 2030 will benefit Gen Z, the most educated and diverse generation in the country’s history.

Gen Z adults, aged between 18-26 and with an average annual income of $32,500, are more likely to rely on local food pantries due to financial constraints. They spend the highest proportion of their income on food while their purchasing power diminishes. Housing expenses consume a large part of their earnings, with many spending more than $2,000 monthly on rent. This generation’s diversity, with more identifying as LGBTQ+, also results in higher instances of food insecurity due to systemic challenges.

Higher education pursuits further compound financial woes for Gen Z, with rising tuition costs adding to their burden. About 36% of Gen Z are saddled with student loan debt, according to Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis analysis. Additionally, a 2020 national survey by The Hope Center revealed that a considerable number of students in two and four year colleges experience food insecurity. Although a network of college food pantries has sprung up in response, the issue’s scale surpasses the capacity of voluntary and charitable endeavors to resolve it.

The Biden-Harris administration’s National Strategy on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health includes three key proposals that could benefit Gen Z adults:

1. Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit. The American Rescue Plan temporarily increased the number of individuals eligible for this tax credit by removing age limitations and raising the earnings cap. Making these changes permanent would benefit Gen Z adults by easing their financial strain and incentivizing workforce participation.
2. Updating SNAP college student eligibility guidelines. In 2021, Congress temporarily revised SNAP rules to permit more college students to qualify, but these changes are due to expire. The College Student Hunger Act of 2021 suggests new guidelines to make low-income students eligible under certain conditions.
3. Facilitating access to federal programs for those eligible. Presently, only 30% of eligible college students enroll in SNAP. The USDA should collaborate with the Department of Education to promote SNAP through the Federal Student Aid program.

Just as the last White House conference on hunger in 1969 shaped essential anti-hunger programs for the Baby Boomers, it’s imperative that we address the distinct challenges Gen Z faces to ensure a robust social safety net for this new generation.