Amid rising need and federal cuts to food insecurity research, Pitt is partnering with Temple University to track food insecurity data and provide resources for students.<\/p>\n
In late September, the Trump administration canceled<\/a> the Household Food Security Report, the only federal survey tracking food insecurity in the United States.\u00a0<\/p>\n College students are facing food insecurity at historically high rates \u2014 an estimated three out of five college students<\/a> currently do not have their basic nutritional needs met. In Oakland, residents navigate living in a food desert <\/a>and having to travel for necessities.<\/p>\n The Department of Agriculture<\/a> called the report \u201credundant, costly, politicized and extraneous.<\/a>\u201d Prior to its cancellation, the department released reports every September since 1999, monitoring national food security data.<\/p>\n Sarah Ramaley, assistant director of basic needs at Pitt, described how Pitt tracks food insecurity on a local scale and mitigates the effects of federal cuts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Care and Resource Support office<\/a> tracks Pitt Pantry, Emergency Funding and Emergency Meal Swipe usage,\u201d Ramaley said. \u201cStudent Affairs is currently conducting the Undergraduate Student Needs Research Survey<\/a>, which is a national survey conducted by the Hope Center for Student Basic Needs<\/a> at Temple University.\u201d<\/p>\n Pitt participates in the survey alongside over 500 universities to gather local statistics and address how campus resources can help students in need.<\/p>\n \u201cThe survey assesses basic needs and insecurities such as food, housing, transportation, utilities, technology, public benefits, etc.,\u201d Ramaley said.<\/p>\n The survey uses this data to advocate for systemic policy change and provides colleges with coaches to increase education and accessibility to public resources.<\/p>\n Students in need at Pitt can access resources such as 30 emergency meal swipes through PittFund$Me<\/a> or apply for a one-time $600 emergency fund.<\/a><\/p>\n In surrounding Pittsburgh communities, food pantries are monitoring an increasing need for emergency food support. The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank recently published their annual statistics<\/a>, demonstrating the highest need in the organization\u2019s history.<\/p>\n