Mentally Hungry

INGLEWOOD, CA - Food insecurity is a serious issue that surrounds college students around the country face. The CSUN Women's Center director, Shira Brown, says that specifically in the CSU system, two out of every five college students are worried about where they are going to get their next meal. Brown further explains that a hungry student leads to a more depressed and mentally exhausted student.

Lisette Perez by Giselle Vazquez, 2020

Lisette Perez is a college senior who is struggling with food insecurity as well as her mental health. She is currently juggling being a full-time business student and working two full-time jobs.

80% of students who are eligible for CalFresh did not use the benefits and many of these students know what the program is. Basic need insecurity and food insecurity overlap heavily and 40% of students say they are facing both problems simultaneously.

Lisette is living in a small studio apartment in Inglewood, California in order to be a little closer to school and avoiding on-campus housing costs.

Lisette says it has been difficult to balance her work, school, and social life. She struggles to make ends meet and has to make sacrifices in order to be able to afford food on a weekly basis.

She has to have enough to pump gas to drive to and from school and to her jobs in Hawthorne and Torrance. She also must have enough to buy food for the week; she explained that she tries to eat at least one meal and uses meal replacement drinks to supplement the other meals she misses.

She moved into her studio apartment back in December but still hasn't had the time to finish unpacking all her boxes. She wants to visit the resources on her campus and apply to use the CalFresh program.

By Giselle Vazquez
With contributions from Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.
Video - Giselle Vazquez
Photo - Giselle Vazquez

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