Basic needs insecurity, including insufficient or inadequate food, housing, and other personal necessities, is a common problem on college campuses, especially at community colleges (Baker-Smith et al., 2020; Broton & GoldrickRab, 2018), and an increasing number of higher education institutions are attempting to ameliorate this issue (Broton…

Given growing awareness of the high prevalence of food insecurity among college students, higher education leaders are implementing various food interventions on their campuses. However, there is little research on the efficacy and impact of these initiatives. Using data from a field randomized control trial, we find that a relatively modest…

Basic-needs insecurity is not a new hurdle, but one that is exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although it was only recently that more institutions began identifying basic-needs insecurity--the lack of access to, or ability to pay for, adequate food and shelter--as a significant challenge keeping students from obtaining credentials, such…

Roughly one-in-five college students provide primary care to at least one child while pursuing a higher education credential. Yet parenting students remain an often-overlooked group and continue to receive inadequate support. They experience basic needs insecurity at alarming rates, reducing their odds of completing valuable degrees. Shortages on…

Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) were established primarily in the post-Civil War era to meet the educational needs of Black Americans. They provide pathways to upward social mobility and have a long-standing commitment to promoting both academic success and students' health and well-being. But persistent funding inequities at…

This report examines the first-ever national survey of campus food pantries, with 262 participating institutions, 217 of which currently operate pantries. We find that most campus pantries have a designated space on campus, serve exclusively the on-campus community, and are run by staff, students, and faculty. Very few campus pantries have sizable…

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…

This report is an in-depth case study of the No Excuses Poverty Initiative at Amarillo College (AC), a midsize community college in the Texas Panhandle. Nearly a decade ago, AC's leadership initiated a reflective and intentional series of steps to help alleviate the conditions of poverty affecting their students and promote the chances those…

"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…

Some students from low-income families are unable to pay their college costs without experiencing material hardship. What they do to make ends meet (e.g., go hungry and homeless) inhibits learning and discourages persistence. Strategic college leaders are investigating the needs of their students and drawing on the strengths of their institutions…