There have now been fifteen years of research on the basic needs of college students in the U.S. The studies have primarily focused on assessing the prevalence of food and housing insecurity. Determining who is responsible and finding solutions have been less emphasized. The scholarship has also not framed the problems of students' basic needs…

There has been more attention to insecurity among college students for basic needs (e.g., Miles, McBeath, Brockett, & Sorenson, 2017; Morris, Smith, Davis, & Null, 2016); however, published research on student food insecurity and housing insecurity remains sparse. It is critical to understand the prevalence of these challenges because they…

National studies and research on the authors' own campus confirms that many college students are sacrificing their health and safety to earn a degree. Furthermore, the challenges experienced by under-resourced college students can prevent them from obtaining a quality educational experience, hinder their progress toward graduation, and contribute…

It is well demonstrated that basic needs insecurities (i.e., food insecurity, housing insecurity, or homelessness) are more pronounced among certain groups of historically marginalized students, including students of color at traditionally under-resourced Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCUs), Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs),…

This document records testimony from a hearing before the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education that was held to discuss strengthening connections with students experiencing homelessness and children in foster care. Member statements were presented by: (1) Honorable Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan, Chairman,…

In this qualitative case study, we employ 29 semistructured interviews and an array of supplemental data to explore why and how COVID-19 shaped school and community practices around student and family homelessness in Houston, Texas. Drawing on Small's notion of organizational embeddedness, we find that COVID-19 fundamentally altered school and…

This report, commissioned by the Bay Area Geographic Leads Consortium, explores how five county offices of education and local school districts pivoted to reach, teach, and support the holistic needs of students experiencing homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report documents the rising number of students experiencing homelessness as…

To examine the phenomenon of postsecondary student homelessness, data were collected in 2014-2015 and again in 2017-2018 to discover the prevalence, to gain greater understanding of the attendant challenges, and to identify resources that can assist homeless students in their educational endeavors. Results suggest which students are most at risk…

In early August 2020, as educators prepared for an uncertain school year, there was a worrying theme from school district homeless liaisons: numbers of identified homeless students were down--in some cases, significantly down--despite evidence of increased need. In September and October of 2020, a survey was conducted of local educational agency…

Community colleges have started to support students' basic needs in multiple ways. Campus-based hubs offering services like public benefits access, emergency aid, food pantries and case management have become increasingly popular. However, limited evidence exists on whether connecting with these hubs improves academic success. The Advocacy and…

For the March 2020 survey, AACRAO partnered with The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University on the March 2020 survey which recently released the results of the 5th annual #RealCollege survey of students' experiences with food and housing insecurity; it demonstrates widespread food and housing insecurity at more than…

Trellis' Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS) seeks to document the financial well-being of post-secondary students and provide institutions with a detailed profile of the financial issues their students face, some of which could potentially impact their success in college. This report details aggregated findings for the 89 colleges and…

Entering the fall 2020 term, higher education was reeling from the coronavirus pandemic. Enrollment was down--particularly among students most at risk of basic needs insecurity; fewer students had completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); and college retention rates had dropped. Students and faculty were stressed and anxious.…

The Student Financial Wellness Survey (SFWS) provides a snapshot of student financial wellbeing during the fall of 2021. Over 700,000 students were surveyed from 104 schools in 25 states and 63,751 students responded. During this period Federal stimulus funding helped stabilize finances for many students, but many still struggled to make ends…

"Hungry and Homeless in College" is a research report that assesses food and housing insecurity among community college students. The report is based on results of a survey of more than 33,000 students at 70 community colleges in 24 states--the broadest survey of its kind--that describes the extent to which students are adversely…