Homelessness: Humanizing Housing Insecurity on College Campuses

By Valarie R. Austin, September 13, 2022, 11:30 AM EDT

(Previously Published on LinkedIn)

To attend college, students incur major expenses such as tuition and fees, meal plans, books and supplies, transportation and housing. Housing is a significant cost but a necessary commodity for college attendance. During the nine-month academic school year, students often live in college dorms. A Debt.org article stated the average cost of room and board with a meal plan for the fall and spring semesters at public colleges and universities was about $8,887. At private colleges or universities, it was $10,089. Many college students choose to live alone or share costs with roommates in off-campus apartments. They often sign a lease for 12 months. The average cost minus utilities is about $1,173 per month for a two-bedroom apartment according to the same article. This average cost depends on the off-campus apartment’s location – state, city and/or neighborhood. Some college students choose to live at home and commute to campus in order to defray housing costs. Another category of college students does not have access to stable and affordable housing. They are homeless or housing-insecure.

The number of housing-insecure students is growing as college/universities attendance costs increase, financial aid amounts diminish, affordable housing inventories shrink, inflation rises, wages remain stagnant, and young adults financially support themselves due to varying circumstances. Al Jazeera’s The Stream program titled “Why are so many US college students homeless?” highlighted the many struggles that housing-insecure college students face. It identified the National Runaway Safeline at 1-800-Runaway Hotline or 1800Runaway.org as a resource to connect students to housing in the U.S. Unfortunately, countless community members and politicians ignore homelessness. Some college staffs, academic advisors and professors are unaware or do not ask about college students’ living accommodations. There is failure at many levels to address the circumstances facing homeless students.

Homelessness for college students across the nation is a complex problem that does not have a one-size fits all solution. The 2021 National Center for Homeless Education identified types of primary nighttime residence for housing-insecure students as:

o  Doubled-up, which is sharing with others
o  Shelters and transitional housing
o  Hotels/motels
o  Unsheltered, which means students may live in cars, parks, abandoned building and/or substandard housing.


Inappropriately, there is a negative perception about homelessness.  Some community leaders and members stigmatize homeless individuals as drug addicts, alcoholics, mentally unstable, lazy, etc. The reality is that homelessness is a circumstance instead of a personal failing. Students who graduate from college often enjoy higher wages, increased financial health, more job opportunities and better job stability than those who only earn a high school diploma. Homelessness, however, impacts a student’s ability to study, concentrate in class and even graduate from college. BestColleges.com detailed 2019 statistics that three in five college students experienced homelessness during the previous year. This statistic translated to “18% of two-year college students and 14% of four-year students reported experiencing homelessness.” The BestColleges.com article also reported some student groups such as former foster care youth; LGBTQ+ youth; and those by race/ethnicity may be more vulnerable to homelessness. Housing-insecure college students deal with no place to sleep at night, unsafe environments, potential theft, violence, poor nutritional health, depression and stress.

Since housing is necessary for well-being and stability, housing-insecure young adults who want to attend college should estimate housing costs and determine practical steps for acquiring housing while in college. Below are a few recommendations:

1.  Select a college/university by comparing the cost of living at home versus on and off-campus housing as one criterion in your decision-making process. Also consider if the college/university offers any financial aid for housing. College websites or other online tools such as the S. Department of Education’s Net Price Calculator Center provide estimates on the net price to attend college and potential financial aid.
2.  Fill out the federal government’s Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) form, starting on October 1st of high school senior year and every year while attending college or technical school to determine eligibility for financial aid in the form of scholarships, grants and work-study. According to WithFrank.org, students can self-identify as homeless or self-supporting on the FAFSA. Seek help completing the FAFSA from your high school guidance counselor.
3.  Apply for state and college scholarships and grants, which may have differing application deadlines than the FAFSA, to pay for housing. The federal government’s American Rescue Plan Act specifically included $800 million for the purposes of identifying students experiencing homelessness according to the 2021 National Center for Homeless Education These funds were allocated to state and local educational agencies.
4.  Inform each college’s financial aid office of your housing-insecure status and request information about year-round housing, food pantries, possible tuition waivers, free housing as a resident assistant in a dorm, part-time employment, community-based services, rental assistance, emergency assistance for an eviction and available safe parking lots/shower facilities/bathrooms/lockers for those living in their cars, etc. The Timely MD website offers strategies for higher education leaders to help homeless students and increase awareness through outreach.
5.  Contact the state’s Department of Housing, Housing Authority, or equivalent for rent assistance and/or supportive housing as well as state social services to find out eligibility and state residency requirements for food stamps and Medicaid. The Center for Online Education website also provides several state and federal resources for homeless students.
6.  Ask for help from friends, family, local-community based organizations such as churches/synagogues/mosques to identify housing options.
7.  Work before/during college to obtain funds to pay for housing costs.
8.  Purchase a bike, scooter, or electric bike, if possible, to expand the pool of potentially cheaper available housing due to greater commuting distances from campus. These modes of transportation do not require a driver’s license or insurance, which saves money. Some campuses’ Departments of Transportation may offer registration for bike/scooter anti-theft/recovery, free helmets, locks and safety gear. Additionally, apply for free or discounted ticket programs that are available for students to use public transportation.
9.  Educate yourself about military service, military tuition assistance and housing subsistence. Determine if the military is a viable path as an officer (through ROTC or the Service Academies) or enlisted service member as well as the appropriate branch of service namely U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard or Marines.


Stable and affordable housing can mean the difference between graduating from college and not graduating for students. With homelessness, there should not be shame or embarrassment. Homelessness is not a moral failure. It is a circumstance that can be improved with support from college leadership, community leaders, non-profit organizations and government. Since colleges typically do not keep records, they may be unaware of the extent of the homelessness problem for their students. Housing-insecure students should ask for help from campus resources to obtain housing information, academic help, social support and financial assistance. Contact the college’s financial aid office to begin the process to help improve your situation. The outcome is worth the effort.

Have a great semester!

 

Valarie R. Austin is the author of The Student’s Comprehensive Guide for College & Other Life Lessons. She has a wealth of knowledge on the subjects of career and college preparation. She also conducts career and college readiness workshops for high school students and parents. Check out her author’s pages on https://www.linkedin/in/valarie-r-austin, https://www.goodreads.com/valarie_r_austin and https://www.amazon.com/author/valarie_r_austin. A Youtube.com review of her book can found at https://youtu.be/xy_GSHlJsa0. This article was edited by Raffie Johnson. Copyright 2022, Vauboix Publishing LLC. Like, comment and/or share this article! (Article 1 of 5, fall 2022)