ASM votes to make UW campus food stamp accessible

News – The Badger Herald

In an effort to promote affordable living on campus, Associated Students of Madison unanimously voted to approve changes to University Housing and Dining and Culinary Services at a Wednesday meeting.Jeff Novak, director of University Housing, discussed upcoming changes around campus, including a student-led initiative to make campus dining food-stamp accessible.
First, Novak laid out University Housing’s main goal: To provide a space where everyone wants to live. To do this, Novak noted the plan to renovate Witte Residence Hall and to implement the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program.
Badger Caring Closet to open its doors to low-income students seeking extra resourcesAs University of Wisconsin students rush to buy new school supplies for the semester ahead, others facing financial constraints will Read…
SNAP will be the university’s first attempt to bring food stamps into the dining halls and convenience stores. At the moment, Oregon State University is one of only a few universities to institute a program similar to this, but it has only been implemented in grocery stores on campus.  
The program will debut fall 2017. Students will be able to apply for the program as it begins. 
While SNAP will allow students to pay for some items with food stamps, Novak said hot prepared foods will not be included. Items such as energy drinks and candy bars, however, will be included.
Salad bars are another example of times that may be eligible under the program as well.
The ability to use SNAP in university dining halls is a great step forward, ASM Chair Carmen Goséy said.
“This opens the doors to a more inclusive campus where students from all backgrounds feel welcome,” Goséy said. “I’m glad University Housing is taking this step. Hopefully we can set an example for universities across the country to follow.”  
In the shadows: UW’s homeless students struggle to succeedFor Brooke Evans,  ...

Read more