Eligibility

Are you a US citizen?

Most respondents, or 92.6% (n = 137), reported that they are U.S. citizens and 7.4% (n = 11) reported they are not citizens.

If not a U.S. citizen, are you a lawful permanent resident (i.e. have a “green card”)?

Out of the participants that were not a U.S. citizen, 54.5% (n = 6) report they are not a permanent resident and 45.5% (n = 5) report they are a permanent resident.

Participation ⭐

  • CalFresh: Half, or 50.0% (n = 74) of respondents, reported that they currently CalFresh and 17.6% (n = 26) have used it in the past. 31.1% (n = 46) reported they have heard of CalFresh but have never used it and 1.4% (n = 2) have never heard of it.

  • WIC: Only 2.7% (n = 4) of respondents reported they currently use the WIC nutrition program, 6.8% (n = 10) of respondents reported they have used it in the past, and 17.0% (n = 25) reported they have never heard of it. The majority (n = 108 73.5%) reported that they have heard of it but never have used it.

  • CalWORKs: Only 0.7% (n = 1) of respondents reported they currently use CalWORKs, 6.8% (n = 10) of respondents reported they have used it in the past, and 7.4% (n = 11) reported they have never heard of it. The majority (n = 126 85.1%) reported that they have heard of it but never have used it.

  • Emergency Food: Of the students who responded, 28.4% (n = 42) reported that they currently use emergency food from the food bank, food pantry, or church, 28.4% (n = 42) reported they have used emergency food in the past, and 3.4% (n = 5) reported they never heard of it. The majority (n = 59 39.9%) reported they have heard of it but never used it.

  • Food Pantry: 47.6% (n = 69) of the respondents reported that they utilized the food pantry for 1-2 months in the last year, 7.6% (n = 11) reported that they utilized the pantry more than 8 months in the last year, and 17.2% (n = 25) reported they did not utilize the food pantry because there was no need.

  • Free Food from community: Only 9.5% (n = 14) of respondents reported that they currently get free food from other community organizations such as meal vouchers, 15.5% (n = 23) reported they have used it in the past, and 22.3% (n = 33) reported they have never heard of it. The majority (n = 78 52.7%) reported that they have heard of it but have never used it.

  • Free or reduced lunch: Only 6.8% (n = 10) of respondents reported that they currently have free or reduced lunch meals at district schools for their children or dependents, 45.3% (n = 67) reported that they have in the past, and 37.2% (n = 55) reported they have heard of it but have never used it. Only 10.8% (n = 16) reported they have never heard of it.

Impact ⭐

Check all statements below that apply to you while you receive or received CalFresh benefits

More than 50% of respondents neither agreed or disagreed, or agreed, that they were able to work fewer paid hours (65.1%), had more time for unpaid work (57.6%), had more money for bills (71.4%) and entertainment (59.6%), shopped at the Farmer’s Market more (56.8%), were able to learn more about healthy food (71.8%) and were able to purchase healthy foods (87.3%) while they received CalFresh.

Check all statements below that apply to you while you receive or received CalFresh benefits

More than 50% of respondents neither agreed or disagreed, or agreed, that while they were receiving CalFresh they were enrolled in more classes (52%), able to concentrate more in classes (94.9%), and their grades improved (96.2%). They had more time to study for exams (93.8%), prepare for class (92.6%), and had more time for homework (92.4%) & office hours (89%). They also reported that they neither disagreed nor agreed, or agreed, that they had more time to attend class (93.6%), for field trips (84.9%), their sleep quality improved (82.3%) and stress level decreased (73.9%) while receiving CalFresh.

Check all statements below that apply to you while you receive or received CalFresh benefits

More than 50% of respondents neither agreed or disagreed, or agreed, that they were able to cook at home more often (94%), consumed a healthier diet (86.8%), consumed less fast food (84.6%), consumed fewer processed foods (85.9%), consumed fewer sweetened drinks (79.4%), and consumed fewer alcoholic beverages (81.4%) while they received CalFresh.

Barriers ⭐

What are the reason(s)you do not have CalFresh or have never used CalFresh? (Mark all that apply)

n %
Didn’t Think They Were Eligible 23 15.3
Too Long 13 8.7
Could Not Get Verification Document 10 6.7
Other 8 5.3
Too Difficult 7 4.7
No Time To Go To Office 6 4.0
Family Does Not Want To 6 4.0
No Need 5 3.3
Embarrassed 4 2.7
No Transportation 4 2.7
Beliefs 2 1.3
Campus Was Not Helpful 0 0.0

Funding

Partially funded by USDA SNAP, known in California as CalFresh, an equal opportunity provider and employer, and the California Department of Social Services. Any use of these results in further work must use the following citation:
Center for Healthy Communities, "Basic Needs Survey", June 2020. Retrieved on xx-xxx-xxxx from https://chicocalfresh.github.io/bns-website/index.html
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