The Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) assists eligible students in living healthy, hunger free lives by acquiring food stamps.
While some students are financially secure or too proud, others are taking full advantage of the government assistance available to eligible college students.
Both independent and dependent students alike can qualify for food stamps. The general eligibility to receive food stamps is based on income and other resources, but the criteria and the process for students are slightly different.
To qualify, students must live off-campus, and should be able to provide proof of residency. Students who reside in the East Towers are also eligible, being that it is considered off campus housing. Students must also be employed and working at least 20 hours per week. Those that meet these criteria are easily qualified.
Interested students must fill out and submit a form requesting verification of financial aid to the Financial Aid Office. After an internal form is filled out by a financial aid officer, who usually takes 5-7 business days, a compilation of the students current financial aid status is provided to the student to be taken to the DC Public Assistance Office. Howard University personnel do not determine eligibility.
Students should take all relevant materials, such as financial aid verification, proof of residency, and pay stubs to the DC Public Assistance Office. A caseworker is then assigned, and the student is evaluated.
Marcus DeCosta, Associate Director of Financial Aid, received food stamps during his college years at Morgan State. He believes the Food Stamp program is helpful to students.
"Utilize all your possible resources", he said.
He also suggests for students to contact the DC Public Assistance office directly for personal inquiries.
Kaleah Merriweather, junior speech communication major, like other students thinks there is a stigma behind food stamps and other government assistance programs, and therefore never pursues them.
"Before I had a stigmatism, but, in college, free food is free food", she said.
Junior advertising major Keahti Ingram plans to apply for food stamps in the near future.
"I feel like it's the same as financial aid," she said. "It's just intended for food. I'm getting it to help through school. "
While some people find the program very beneficial in their academic pursuits, others may not. Nonetheless, Food Stamps are available for students to meet their needs.
