TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — Between FSU, FAMU, and TCC, Tallahassee is home to 60,000 college students.
The Florida Student Association says 50 percent of those students deal with food insecurity on a weekly basis. On top of that, another 15 percent battle homelessness.
That's why the FSA is asking lawmakers for $340,000.
This house bill would fund homelessness and food insecurity programs on college campuses.
Students were joined by lawmakers at the Capitol Tuesday, explaining the difficult choice between eating or paying for school.
"When you're just trying to survive you cannot thrive," said Hunter Lyons, a student at the University of West Florida. "So that is what this appropriation is about. It's about matching private giving with public funding so that we can make sure our students succeed. Because if we nip this in the bud now, we help them get there degree, they stay off the street. And in the long-term we're building our economy, keeping our students safe and preventing chronic homelessness.
If approved, this money would support food pantries at all 12 universities in the State of Florida's University System.
