Food (resource page)

If you identify as an undocumented student, or a student in a mixed-status family (where at least one member is undocumented), in this page you can find more information related to accessing food-based resources, such as college campus meal plans and basic needs centers. Some of the programs listed on this resource page have restrictions based on immigration status. For example, SNAP is not open to undocumented students. They are listed here in case it applies to students in mixed-status families where a member is a green card holder or U.S. citizen.

Please keep in mind that this resource page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute or replace professional legal advice. It is important to consult with an experienced and trustworthy immigration representative or attorney to receive answers and support for specific legal questions. Additionally, the information provided is current to the publication of this resource page. Please be sure to verify any authenticity and trustworthiness of links prior to connecting with any resource.

“My mom always tells me like, ‘Oh, I feel like if there’s something that you should never stop yourself from buying is food, like, if you really need it, you have to buy it, you just get it and then we solve it later.’”
Laura, college student with TPS in California

In this page, you can find more information about the following:

Resources for Undocumented College Students

We recommend browsing through these resources to gain an understanding of the kind of support that may be available and reach out to staff in your campus to see if similar resources are provided.

Basic Needs Centers & Food Pantries

At the California State University (CSU) and the University of California (UC) systems, every campus has a basic needs center. These centers provide a wide range of services and resources for currently enrolled students at each respective campus. At the University of California, Irvine, for example, the basic needs center provides students with access to the FRESH pantry for emergency food and toiletries, emergency meal swipes, short-term grocery cards, and more.

“Well, I can’t really go home but on campus, they also have like a, like a food pantry system where once a week you could like, like, make a schedule and like pick up some like groceries.”
Miguel, undocumented college student in California

Spotlight on non-California campuses with similar efforts:

William Jessup University: “Our Hungry Warrior and basic needs program is a collaborative effort of on-campus and community-based programs with the goal of improving student success through the provision of supplemental food and referral services for students experiencing food insecurity, hunger, displacement, and poverty.”
The University of Michigan: “The Maize and Blue Cupboard is here to provide an immediate and comprehensive response for the U-M community. By offering resources, educational opportunities, compassionate support and more, we help students develop the skills to make informed decisions.”

Grocery Credit Cards/Gift Cards/Vouchers

“The one that I have done more regularly is like a grocery voucher, also, for people who aren’t eligible for EBT where we do get on $100 in gift cards for food. And I’ve done that for maybe it’s per quarter and I’ve maybe done it like six or seven times now, so that helps a lot.”
Pedro, DACAmented college student in California

University of California, Davis: AggieFresh is a 2-year pilot program funded through June 2025. Similar to CalFresh, both undergraduate and graduate students who meet eligibility requirements are provided a credit card for food purchases up to $291 a month through the spring quarter.
University of California, Santa Barbara: The Grocery Voucher Program is available for students who demonstrate financial need and are not eligible for CalFresh with a focus on UC Santa Barbara undocumented students. Undocumented students are able to receive 2 grocery vouchers ($100 in total) per quarter. Grocery vouchers are distributed at the Food Security and Basic Needs Advising Center at the UCen.
University of California, Merced: Undocumented students can pick up one grocery or gas card every month at the Monarch Center. It is a first-come, first-serve & based on need.

“I also have the grocery gift card that I will be getting every month. Last year, I requested and received, like $600 for my summer– summer classes, which were very expensive and they they quickly approved it. They were like, “yes, we’re gonna give you $600 to go towards your summer bill.”
Fatima, college student in California with a U-Visa

Notifications of Free Food on Campus

At the University of California, Irvine Zot Bites is a text-based notification system that invites students to be an after-event guest when a catered event is over and excess food is available. By opting in, students will receive text messages informing them when and where food is available on campus.

Emergency Funds/Grants

California Baptist University: The fund provides resources to currently enrolled CBU students in financial need due to unforeseen circumstances that are beyond the student’s control.
Occidental College: The Office for Religious and Spiritual Life has compiled a list of resources for individuals and families experiencing food insecurity or economic hardship
University of California, Los Angeles: Emergency Meal Program, If you are experiencing food insecurity, please complete The Emergency Meal Program Form, for Summer 2024. This program aims to support students with food insecurity who do not have access to regular and nutritious meals
University of Washington: The Food Security grant is available to help students meet short-term, immediate needs. The grant is a $100 allotment on a Husky Card intended for emergency assistance to purchase food from a UW Housing & Food Services facility.

Reduced Meal Plans

Pitzer College: Students may request a lower plan due to financial or medical accommodation by requesting an application from Housing@pitzer.edu for review.
University of Southern California: USC offers the Trojan Plan, which includes 60 Residential Meal Swipes and $3,385 in Dining Dollars per semester, and the Apartment Plan, which includes 40 Residential Meal Swipes and $150 in Dining Dollars per semester. Sophomores, juniors, and seniors living in USC Housing Apartments are automatically assigned the Apartment Plan when they confirm their housing contract.
California Community Colleges: In California, students may also be eligible for free or low-cost meals if they meet certain criteria, such as having a family income below 130% of the federal poverty line, or participating in CalFresh or CalWORKs.

University Food Care Packages

Oregon State University: The Basic Needs Center is offering Healthy Beaver Bags to Oregon State University Students throughout the term and during finals week. These are different themed recipe kits created by our center’s students and OSU community members.

On-Campus Community Gardens

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill: A program that has created a production garden in the heart of campus located directly behind Davis Library, as well as 8 satellite garden sites throughout campus. Gardens are filled with vegetables, fruits, herbs, etc. The produce is free for anyone in the community.
University of Florida: students and staff can rent plots to grow their own produce for $20 every six months.

Food Banks Recommended By Universities

University of Michigan: The Food Gatherers organization, founded by Zingerman’s Delicatessen, provides access to over 150 food partners throughout Washtenaw County. Use the online map/list to locate a food pantry or free meal distributor based on your need.
University of Washington: The UofW created a PDF of food bank resources that students can access if school food-based resources are insufficient.

“Hmm, we would go to the food banks. They’re in our inner city, they were really active during this time. So they would have a lot of food boxes. And that would kind of help us with our next meal. And also minimize spending, which was pretty easy, since we were all kind of stuck inside.”
Daysi, college student in mixed-status families in California

Research on Food Access and Needs Among Undocumented Immigrants

Interested in research surrounding food-insecurity surrounding undocumented individuals and mixed status families? Listed below is a list of scholarly articles featuring research surrounding food-insecurity and its effects upon immigrants in the United States. Please note that to the extent possible, we tried to identify research that is free and open to the public. However, some of the links below may prompt you to subscribe or make a purchase to access the full content. If that is the case, we encourage you to first verify that the website you are referred to is working; links may malfunction and domains may change so we encourage you to confirm that the website you are in is trustworthy. We also encourage you to contact your school’s library to inquire about the possibility of obtaining access to the content through your institutional affiliation.

Title, year, author(s)	Brief description
“Food Insecurity Among Undocumented Immigrants in California & Exclusion From Nutrition Assistant Programs” (2022) by Nourish California and the California Immigrant Policy Center	This brief explores the issue of food insecurity among undocumented immigrants in California, including a description of the unique set of barriers and limitations that this segment of the population encounters.
“Food Insecurity Among Immigrant Populations in the United States” (2022) by Joshua Berning, Carolina Norris, and Rebecca Clearly	This article examines the prevalence and determinants of food insecurity within immigrant communities, highlighting disparities between different immigrant groups, including the impact of legal status, economic instability, and limited access to food assistance programs.
“The Experience of Food Insecurity Among Immigrants: a Scoping Review” (2018) by Marryn Maynard, Jennifer Dean, Paulina I. Rodriguez, Gobika Sriranganathan, Mona Qutub, and Sharon I. Kirkpatrick	This article provides a comprehensive review of the literature on food insecurity experienced by immigrant populations. This includes key themes and gaps in current research, insights into the multifaceted challenges immigrants face in accessing food such as economic hardships, legal barriers, and the impact of social and cultural factors.
“Addressing Food Insecurity Among Undocumented Immigrants in California–An Expansion and Outreach Approach” (2023) by Duy Nhan T. Ho	The article explores strategies for improving food security among undocumented immigrants in California. The study advocates for expanding food assistance programs and increasing outreach efforts to better serve this vulnerable population, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to overcome barriers such as legal restrictions and limited access to resources.
“More than Just Not Enough: Experiences of Food Insecurity for Latino Immigrants” (2014) by Ashley L. Munger, Tiffani D. S. Lloyd, Katherine E. Speirs, Kate C. Riera, Stephanie K. Grutzmacher	The article explores the multifaceted experiences of food insecurity among Latino immigrants. The study highlights not only the scarcity of food but also the complex socio-economic and psychological factors contributing to food insecurity, including legal status, cultural barriers, and inadequate access to support systems. The authors emphasize the need for culturally sensitive interventions and policies to address these diverse challenges.
“Food Deserts and Migrant Farmworkers: Assessing Food Access in Oregon’s Willamette Valley” (2014) by Katie Grauel and Kimberlee J. Chambers	The study identifies the region as a food desert, where limited access to affordable, nutritious food exacerbates the difficulties experienced by these workers. The authors discuss the impact of geographic isolation, economic constraints, and inadequate transportation on food security, highlighting the need for targeted policies and interventions to improve food access for this vulnerable population.

Resources for Undocumented Parents with Young Children

The resources below are geared towards assisting low-income parents who have young children. Given that these are federal resources, programs and eligibility may vary depending on the city or state where you reside.

WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children)

WIC helps low-income women, infants, and children up to the age of 5 by providing nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, and referrals to healthcare. WIC benefits are available to eligible women during and after their pregnancy and include breastfeeding support. WIC food benefits can be used at authorized stores across the country. Some state agencies provide additional coupons that can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at participating farmers’ markets through the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP).

To be eligible for WIC, individuals must meet the program eligibility requirements. Individuals who may be eligible need to apply through their residing state’s designated agency.

WIC Eligibility Requirements: Categorical, Residential, Income, Nutrition Risk Requirement

“Yeah, so with the meal plan I actually usually at home. I think only once at the UC or at the school and how I get my food, we also get we also get [Food Stamps] for my daughter so we get around like $250 a month. So when we do get that, we ended up getting we end up shopping like a Costco or just like stuff, just like. grocery stores. And then we also get WIC, we, that’s where we get most of our food from. And yeah, we yeah that’s were we get most of our food from.”
Oscar, undocumented college student in California

Resources for Legal Residents and Mixed-Status Families

Below are resources for legal residents and mixed status families. Non-citizens must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to qualify for these resources. Please note that undocumented immigrants do not qualify for these resources. They are included in this resource page for informational purposes only for those who may reside in mixed-status families where at least one member has some type of legal status like U.S. citizenship or legal permanent residency.

SNAP EBT (Formally Known as Food Stamps)

SNAP EBT (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Electronic Benefits Transfer) (EBT) is a public federal program that makes the cost of food more affordable to eligible low and no income individuals and households.

Eligibility
Note: Undocumented immigrants and DACA recipients are unable to access SNAP benefits (National Immigration Forum)

Apply for SNAP Benefits
Find SNAP Retailers in Your Area: allows anyone to locate nearby SNAP-authorized retailers by entering a street address, city and state or zip code.
Find Your Local SNAP Office

National Immigration Law Center: This table lists the state-funded programs that provide nutrition assistance to immigrants who are not eligible for coverage under the federally funded Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), formerly known as the Food Stamp Program. Unless otherwise noted, state-funded assistance is provided at the federal SNAP benefit level.

Resources for Young Children in Mixed-Status Families

Below are resources for children under 18 years of age and do not require proof of citizenship. Some of these programs are school-based and may vary depending on location. We recommend inquiring at your childrens’ school district or social services office for similar programs if these are unavailable to you.

School Lunch and Breakfast at K-12 Schools

Some elementary, middle, and high schools across the country offer reduced price or free lunch and breakfast for eligible students through federally funded programs. If you yourself are in school, or have family members who go to school, these programs may be helpful.

This factsheet, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service program, provides information about the National School Lunch Program including how to sign up for the program, who is eligible, and what kinds of meals they serve. And this factsheet, created by the same department, provides information about The School Breakfast Program.

California National School Lunch Programs Fact Sheet & Eligibility
This site provides the Department’s annual adjustments to the Income Eligibility Guidelines (IEGs), to be used in determining eligibility for free and reduced price meals or free milk. These guidelines are used by schools, institutions, and facilities participating in the National School Lunch Program (and USDA Foods in Schools), School Breakfast Program, Special Milk Program for Children, Child and Adult Care Food Program and Summer Food Service Program.
School Breakfast Program FAQ

SUN Meals (Summer Food Service Program)

Through SUN Meals, kids of all ages can eat meals and snacks during the summer at no cost at schools, parks, and other neighborhood locations. SUN Meals may have a different name where you live, but the benefit is the same: meals for kids and teens, and opportunities to participate in fun activities. Every child aged 18 and under can enjoy SUN Meals, some rural communities now offer SUN Meals To-Go.

Summer Food Program Contacts

The Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) is federally-funded but is administered by states or territories. USDA reimburses program operators who serve no-cost, healthy meals and snacks to children and teens in low-income areas.

Click here for access to the immersive map. Click on your corresponding state for your Food and Nutrition Service Contacts

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

I am an undocumented individual, do I qualify for SNAP benefits?
- Unfortunately, undocumented individuals do not qualify for SNAP benefits due to the requirement of submitting a social security number and other identifying documents. However, certain individuals who are registered as asylum seekers or have specific visas may qualify for these benefits. It is recommended to carefully read through SNAP eligibility requirements or make an appointment with a trusted social worker at your social services office.
As a recent mother, what age do my children need to be for me to qualify for WIC benefits?
- Low-income women, infants, and children up to the age of 5 may qualify for WIC benefits. WIC provides nutritious foods, information on healthy eating, and referrals to healthcare. WIC benefits are available to eligible women during and after their pregnancy and include breastfeeding support.
As a legal permanent resident, will applying for SNAP affect my ability to apply for citizenship in the future?
- According to the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, “applying for or receiving SNAP benefits does not make you a ‘public charge’”. With SNAP or other programs, it is important to understand the eligibility requirements, benefits, and how these might impact your immigration status. It is recommended to consult with a trustworthy immigration attorney to better understand your own unique situation and concerns.
How do I get in contact with basic needs resources on my campus?
- To get in contact with the basic needs center on your campus, search up your university name alongside “basic needs center”. Upon entering the website for your basic needs center, you will traditionally find a list of resources and events. Contact information, address, and hours of operation are commonly available at the bottom of the website. We also recommend following your basic need center’s social media accounts to stay up to date on your center’s events and news.

Last updated on: October 2024

Collection of resources & narrative: Evelyn Jimenez