The food desert and affordability issues in Oakland must be addressed. Students and the greater Oakland community need affordable food. This is just one step in a much longer process of recognizing the low-income students and community members who are on SNAP and addressing affordability issues as a University. As the University becomes more economically accessible, it must be ensured that the University does not develop in ways that don’t increase the burdens that already exist for these vulnerable members of our community.
We also want to start working with the Pitt Pantry and other organizations to serve lower income and less privileged students on our campus. We want to spend our time on SGB helping underserved populations of Pitt students. That means gathering data beyond who lives off campus or on campus to find out if students can afford their housing, or even what students are homeless or living in their cars. From there, we can create sustainable resources and aid to help our community members get back on their feet. In addition, we want to work with the Pitt Pantry to increase the resources for this vital program as well as expand it -- for instance, by helping students who use the Pantry receive free or heavily discounted meal plans.
We also want to start working with the Pitt Pantry and other organizations to serve lower income and less privileged students on our campus. We want to spend our time on SGB helping underserved populations of Pitt students. That means gathering data beyond who lives off campus or on campus to find out if students can afford their housing, or even what students are homeless or living in their cars. From there, we can create sustainable resources and aid to help our community members get back on their feet. In addition, we want to work with the Pitt Pantry to increase the resources for this vital program as well as expand it -- for instance, by helping students who use the Pantry receive free or heavily discounted meal plans.