Last fall, Colorado voters approved Proposition FF to establish the Healthy School Meals for All (HSMA) program. This made our state one of three in the nation to provide universal, free school meals to all public school students. By reducing tax deductions at higher income levels, HSMA creates a fund to reimburse participating school districts for every meal served. HSMA also establishes additional programs that support schools in purchasing local food, paying cafeteria workers higher wages, and providing technical assistance throughout the implementation process. Advocates are hopeful that the passage of HSMA will prompt other states to work towards making school meals available to all students.
Ashley Wheeland, Director of Public Policy at Hunger Free Colorado, joins us this week on The West Steps to talk about HSMA. In this episode, we learn how Proposition FF made its way to voters, what exactly the program does, and the many benefits that school districts and students will see by opting in to HSMA. Set to launch in fall 2023, this program is currently the most robust in the nation – positioning Colorado as a leader in combatting childhood hunger. With the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Emergency Allotments (EAs) set to end this month, more than 250,000 households and 499,000 individuals in Colorado will see a significant reduction in the amount of SNAP benefits they receive. This means the new HSMA program is even more critical to the food security and health of kids across the state. To learn more about Hunger Free Colorado’s work to combat food insecurity, visit their website.
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