WASHINGTON (AP) — Joseph Sais, whose early life was shaped by dependence on welfare under the care of his grandmother, faced a crisis during his college years when his eligibility for SNAP, commonly known as food stamps, was unexpectedly revoked. Sais, now a first-year graduate student at Sacramento State University, recalled the challenges he encountered as a full-time college student dealing with food insecurity, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The pandemic posed additional hurdles for students like Sais, causing him to temporarily lose his SNAP eligibility due to a missed “important letter.” This loss had a profound impact, distracting him during exams as he worried about his next meal. Despite these hardships, Sais successfully graduated with a degree in political science and journalism.

Sais is part of a largely hidden demographic—full-time college students grappling with severe food insecurity. According to Radha Muthiah, President of the Capital Area Food Bank, this issue emerged from the shadows during the pandemic, revealing a hidden crisis. Muthiah estimates that at least 30% of college students struggle with food insecurity.

During the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture eased SNAP eligibility requirements for college students. This allowed students on financial aid with no expected family support and those qualified for work-study programs, regardless of their work hours, to access SNAP benefits. Researchers estimate that as many as 3 million college students were newly enrolled in the program due to these changes.

However, as the public health emergency subsides, students already receiving SNAP benefits had to recertify under pandemic-era rules before June 30 to remain eligible. The expanded SNAP eligibility will last for one more year, with the program reverting to pre-pandemic rules at varying times over the next year, depending on individual state schedules.

MacGregor Obergfell, Assistant Director of Governmental Affairs at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, expressed concern, warning that in the coming months, thousands of college students could lose access to the program, creating a gradual crisis.

Furthermore, the expanded rules will not apply to this year’s incoming freshman class. This transition back to the old SNAP rules coincides with rising food insecurity due to inflation, as noted by Robb Friedlander, Director of Advocacy for Swipe Out Hunger, an organization focused on college food insecurity.

The awareness of this issue has led to the establishment of on-campus food pantries at numerous universities over the past decade. However, many of these pantries rely solely on donations, limiting their capacity to address the growing need.

To accommodate students’ irregular schedules, some on-campus pantries have adopted 24-hour service models that do not require constant staffing. These pantries are now bracing for a surge in demand as students are gradually removed from the SNAP program.

Even with relaxed SNAP entry criteria, many students faced bureaucratic obstacles and frustration when navigating the system. Jessalyn Morales, a junior at Lehman College, recounted her struggle to qualify for SNAP, including five rejected applications, despite her sudden financial crisis.

Surviving on campus food pantries and her roommates’ leftovers, Morales faced the difficult choice between paying rent or buying food. She eventually received SNAP benefits in May and honed her budgeting skills to make her monthly payment of $260 stretch for two months.

Both Sais and Morales described their lives as being in “survival mode.” However, Obergfell emphasized the importance of addressing the basic needs of students to enable their success in higher education.

Sais echoed this sentiment, expressing the desire to thrive rather than merely survive. He reflected, “Sometimes I would like to thrive rather than just survive. Fighting all your life is just tiring.