To: The Oregon State House, The Oregon State Senate, and Governor Kate Brown
Change SNAP food benefits for students in Oregon
In Oregon, students must work a minimum of 20 hours a week to be eligible for SNAP food benefits. Sign this petition to get rid of the 20 hour work week requirement and help our Oregon students get food benefits so they can stay healthy and focus all their time on studies!
Why is this important?
My name is Aleena Watson and I am pursuing my Computer Science degree at Portland State University. The money I get from financial aid barely covers tuition and housing fees, therefore I find myself with no money to use for food. I was encouraged to apply for SNAP food benefits and also because of the 75% usage rate, I applied. I was first denied because in the eyes of SNAP Oregon, as a student, we are expected to have extra free time to also carry a job of at least 20 hours a week; not every 2 weeks or month, but 20 hours a week!
Once I finally got a month's worth of working 20 hours a week to show to SNAP, they approved my case and received my allowance of $16.00 in SNAP food benefits for an entire month.
Please help students in Oregon qualify for SNAP food benefits without having to work a minimum number of hours, and to be treated like the rest of the community. Please ensure that we can continue with our education and also be able to eat. Allow students to concentrate on our studies without mandatory work hour qualifications for SNAP benefits. Please sign this petition to help students attain food benefits through SNAP Oregon without restrictions on work hours!