University Students Experiencing Homelessness: A Hidden Crisis

Homelessness is a pressing issue in the United States, and it is increasingly prevalent among college students. The high cost of tuition, fees, and housing, coupled with inadequate financial aid, has left many students struggling to meet their basic needs. This issue has gained prominence during the pandemic, with millions of students facing housing and food insecurity. According to various sources, the number of homeless college students in the US ranges from 1.5 million to 4 million. This situation has severe consequences for their academic performance and future prospects, as homelessness significantly reduces graduation and retention rates.

Homelessness impacts on academic progress

The stress of worrying about housing and the lack of a stable living environment can make it difficult for college students to focus on their studies and meet deadlines. This can result in lower grades and stronger academic concerns compared to students who are housed and food secure. The instability and uncertainty of homelessness can also take a toll on mental health, making it challenging for students to stay motivated and engaged in their studies.

A student who grew up poor in northern Colorado and attended Colorado State University described his experience with homelessness. He explained that he often slept on friends' couches and used campus sinks to clean up. He felt different from his peers and struggled with not having a stable place to live. He also mentioned skipping meals due to a lack of access to food storage, which can negatively impact academic performance.

According to a California State University study in 2018, students experiencing homelessness had lower GPAs and stronger academic concerns than their housed peers. The study highlights the direct impact of homelessness on academic progress, as students may find it challenging to balance their studies with their basic survival needs.

The challenges of homelessness can also lead to a lack of retention and graduation among college students. The instability and stress of not having a permanent home can make it difficult for students to persist in their studies and complete their degrees. This can have long-term consequences for their educational and career aspirations.

To address these issues, some organizations and institutions are implementing initiatives to support homeless college students. For example, LuMin, a Lutheran ministry, provides subsidized housing and meals for students at Colorado State University. Additionally, state legislatures have enacted laws to support homeless college students, such as providing homeless liaisons, housing priority, tuition and fee waivers, and financial aid assistance. These efforts aim to reduce the barriers faced by homeless students and improve their academic progress and outcomes.

Causes of student homelessness

Student homelessness is a significant issue, with around 1.5 million college students in America experiencing homelessness. This problem has been exacerbated by the pandemic, with millions of students facing housing insecurity. There are several causes of student homelessness, and it is essential to understand these factors to address this pressing issue effectively.

One of the primary causes of student homelessness is the rising cost of tuition and living expenses. Over the past two decades, the cost of tuition, fees, room, and board has increased significantly, outpacing the growth of median family income. This has put a strain on students' budgets, especially those from low-income families. Many students rely on grants and loans to finance their education, but financial aid has failed to keep up with the rising costs. As a result, students struggle to secure stable housing and often face housing insecurity, moving between temporary living situations.

The lack of affordable housing is another critical factor contributing to student homelessness. The supply of on-campus housing often falls short of meeting the demand, forcing students to compete with non-student households in the off-campus housing market. Students often lack the credentials, such as rental histories or cosigners, to secure market-rate rental housing. Additionally, federal housing support for students is limited and dependent on factors like parental income and enrollment status. Students are not typically eligible for affordable housing programs, as these programs aim to support low-income households and may assume that students' parents can provide financial support.

The impact of family and social factors on student homelessness cannot be overlooked. Students may experience homelessness due to family rejection, abuse, or domestic violence. Additionally, limited family support can hinder a student's ability to pursue higher education and secure stable housing. Students who come from unstable family backgrounds or face challenges such as poverty and neglect are more vulnerable to becoming homeless.

Furthermore, the lack of awareness of available financial resources and the complexities of financial aid processes contribute to student homelessness. Unaccompanied homeless youth face challenges in obtaining federal financial assistance due to burdensome rules and documentation requirements. The process of applying for and maintaining eligibility for financial aid can be complex and inaccessible, especially for those without family support.

Lastly, underlying issues such as substance abuse and mental health disorders can also lead to student homelessness. Drug addiction has been known to cause family breakdowns and young people leaving their homes. Additionally, mental health issues, including emotional crises, can be both a cause and a consequence of student homelessness, impacting a student's ability to succeed academically.

Addressing student homelessness requires a multifaceted approach that targets these various causes. It is essential to provide affordable housing options, improve access to financial resources, and offer support for students facing family and social challenges. By tackling these issues, we can reduce the prevalence of student homelessness and improve academic outcomes and future prospects for vulnerable students.

Student homelessness and food insecurity

Student homelessness is a growing issue in the United States, with approximately 1.5 million college students experiencing homelessness. This issue has been exacerbated by the recent pandemic, with millions of students facing housing and food insecurity. The high cost of tuition, fees, room, and board, coupled with inadequate federal student aid, has left many students struggling to meet their basic needs. The transitional nature of student living also makes it challenging to document their experiences, leading to a lack of data on postsecondary student homelessness.

Food insecurity, defined as the lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life, is a significant concern for homeless students. Research has found that students who experience food insecurity while in college are more than 40% less likely to graduate. Basic needs insecurity, which encompasses food insecurity, homelessness, and housing insecurity, was reported by 58% of students surveyed in the #RealCollege Survey of more than 195,000 students conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice in 2020.

The impact of student homelessness and food insecurity on academic progress is profound. Homeless students often face barriers to education, including a lack of documentation and enrollment requirements, high mobility resulting in absenteeism, lack of transportation, lack of supplies, poor health, fatigue, hunger, and emotional crisis/mental health issues. The chronic absence rate among homeless students is more than double that of other students, and their graduation rates are significantly lower than those from low-income families with stable housing.

The issue of student homelessness and food insecurity is not limited to the United States. In the United Kingdom, for example, a 2018 report by the National Union of Students found that one in five students had gone without food or skipped meals due to financial constraints. The report also revealed that 25% of students had relied on a food bank or charitable handouts to get by.

To address these issues, some colleges have hired directors of basic needs to provide dedicated support to students struggling with food or housing insecurity, as well as other challenges related to childcare, transportation, and financial wellness. Additionally, institutions of higher education are responding by creating basic needs assessment surveys, including questions about homelessness in their applications, and partnering with local housing authorities and community organizations to secure housing for students. Policy changes, such as the FAFSA Simplification Act, aim to improve access to financial aid for homeless and foster youth.

Student homelessness and the lack of federal support

Student homelessness is a pressing issue in the United States, with approximately 1.5 million college students experiencing homelessness. This problem has been exacerbated by the recent pandemic, with millions of students facing housing insecurity on top of the challenges of higher education. While there has been some federal recognition of the issue, there is a lack of targeted federal support to address student homelessness specifically. This gap in federal support has significant implications for the academic progress and future prospects of homeless students, who face unique challenges in accessing stable housing.

The primary federal program addressing student homelessness is the McKinney-Vento Act's Education for Homeless Children and Youth (EHCY) Program. The EHCY program provides funding to local education liaisons who help identify homeless students, ensure their access to school, and coordinate with community agencies to meet basic needs. However, the funding for this program falls short of addressing the scale of the problem. In the 2023 fiscal year, the appropriation for the EHCY program was $129 million, enough to provide subgrants to approximately one in four school districts.

While other federal programs, such as the American Rescue Plan—Homeless Children and Youth Funds (ARP-HCY), have allocated funding to support the identification, enrollment, and school participation of homeless students, there is a lack of targeted initiatives specifically aimed at college student homelessness. The federal homelessness prevention and response system has been criticized for failing to fully address the unique needs of college students experiencing homelessness or those at risk of becoming homeless. This gap in support is due in part to the lack of reliable data on college student homelessness, as the transitional nature of student living makes it challenging to document their experiences accurately.

The absence of targeted federal support for college student homelessness has significant consequences. Students experiencing homelessness face higher rates of chronic absence, with more than half of homeless students in the 2021-2022 school year missing classes regularly. Homelessness also negatively impacts graduation rates, with students experiencing homelessness graduating at significantly lower rates than their low-income but stably housed peers. The lack of stable housing can lead to difficulties in accessing and completing higher education, which can have long-term effects on future opportunities and economic stability.

To address the specific needs of college students experiencing homelessness, there is a growing recognition that federal policy interventions are necessary. By providing targeted support and resources, federal initiatives can help mitigate the financial risks associated with student loan defaults and improve long-term economic stability for these students. Additionally, ensuring that students have stable housing can increase college completion rates, persistence, and credit attainment, improving their future prospects.

The transitional nature of student living and the challenge of documenting experiences of homelessness

Student homelessness is a salient issue that has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the rising costs of living. The transient nature of student life, with frequent moves and changes in living situations, makes it challenging to accurately document and address homelessness among this population. This is further complicated by the hidden nature of student homelessness, as they often do not fit the stereotypical image of sleeping on the streets or in shelters. Instead, students may couch surf, live in temporary or unstable situations, or reside in crowded houses, making it difficult to identify and provide targeted support.

The lack of stable housing can have devastating consequences on a student's academic performance and future prospects. Homeless students face barriers in accessing education, with lower graduation and retention rates compared to their stably housed peers. The stress of studying, deadlines, and tuition costs are compounded by the worry of finding a place to sleep and store their belongings. The lack of a permanent address can also hinder their ability to access financial aid and maintain enrollment, further disrupting their educational journey.

The underlying causes of student homelessness are multifaceted and influenced by societal and economic factors. The rising costs of tuition, fees, room, and board have outpaced the increase in median family income, placing a strain on students' budgets. Federal student aid has failed to keep up with these rising costs, leaving many students struggling to meet their basic needs. Additionally, students often lack the necessary credentials, such as rental histories or cosigners, to secure market-rate rental housing, further contributing to their housing instability.

The challenge of documenting student homelessness is partly due to the data gap, as policymakers lack comprehensive information on post-secondary student homelessness. This data gap hinders the ability to design effective prevention and response systems tailored to the specific needs of homeless college students. It is crucial to address this data gap and improve the understanding of student homelessness to develop targeted interventions and ensure that students can access the support they need to succeed academically.

To address student homelessness and housing insecurity, policymakers can implement timely reforms at the federal and local levels. This includes increasing access to emergency aid, such as allowing the use of Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) to help students stay in school during critical periods. Additionally, supporting reforms to allow students to live in Housing Credit-financed units and collaborating with universities to achieve housing and zoning reforms can help increase the supply of affordable housing. By addressing the underlying factors contributing to student homelessness, policymakers can foster long-term economic stability for these individuals and mitigate the financial risks associated with student loan defaults.

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