Addressing Food and Housing Insecurity in College Students: A Closer Look

🌱Food and housing insecurity is a prevalent issue among college students, impacting their well-being and academic success.

🏘️Many students face challenges such as lack of access to nutritious food, unstable housing situations, and financial constraints.

💪Addressing food and housing insecurity requires a comprehensive approach that includes policy changes, financial aid reform, and increased access to resources.

🌍Food and housing insecurity is not limited to community colleges; it affects students at universities and graduate levels as well.

💡Creating a welcoming environment and providing support systems can help students feel included and supported in their pursuit of education.

What are some of the factors contributing to food and housing insecurity among college students?

—Factors contributing to food and housing insecurity among college students include financial constraints, limited access to affordable housing, high tuition fees, and lack of awareness about available resources.

How does food and housing insecurity affect students' academic success?

—Food and housing insecurity can lead to increased stress, poor nutrition, and lack of stable living arrangements, all of which negatively impact students' ability to focus on their studies and perform academically.

What can colleges and universities do to address food and housing insecurity?

—Colleges and universities can implement policies to support students, such as establishing food pantries, providing emergency housing options, offering financial aid for basic needs, and connecting students with community resources.

Is food and housing insecurity more common among certain student populations?

—Food and housing insecurity disproportionately affects low-income students, first-generation college students, students of color, and students from marginalized communities. However, it is not limited to these groups and can affect any student facing financial challenges.

How can students support each other in addressing food and housing insecurity?

—Students can support each other by raising awareness about available resources, forming student organizations focused on addressing food and housing insecurity, advocating for policy changes, and providing emotional support to peers facing these challenges.

00:01[Music]

00:12The speaker expresses gratitude for the audience's presence and introduces their background in working with Hispanic serving community colleges.

00:24The speaker shares their initial excitement about the work they wanted to do at a community college but quickly realized the extent of students' underpreparedness and challenges.

01:05The speaker mentions their attempts to apply Carol Dweck's growth mindset to help students succeed but faced various obstacles like students falling asleep in class and dealing with food and housing insecurity.

02:22The speaker highlights their involvement with Phi Theta Kappa and a research project on food and housing insecurity based on students' needs.

03:27The speaker emphasizes the importance of addressing food and housing insecurity not only for community college students but also for students at universities and graduate levels.

06:31The speaker discusses the need for policies and institutional support to address food and housing insecurity, highlighting the cost of not taking action.

08:46The speaker discusses Maslow's hierarchy of needs and the correlation between meeting students' basic needs and their academic success.

10:10The speaker presents data on students' work hours and familial obligations, shedding light on the realities students face while pursuing education.