Special Report: #RealCollege 2020, pandemic edition
The results are in from #RealCollege survey, which was disseminated last fall for the sixth year in a row. The #RealCollege survey was created by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University in order to better understand basic needs insecurity among college students. According to the Hope Center,
“basic needs begin with food, water, shelter, and safety…Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods, or the ability to acquire such foods in a socially acceptable manner… Housing insecurity includes the broader set of challenges, such as the inability to pay rent or utilities, or the need to move frequently. Homelessness means that a person has no permanent place to live, often residing in a shelter, in an automobile, in an abandoned building, or on the street. ” -Guide to Assessing Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education, 2019
Over 200 colleges in 42 states across the country participated in #RealCollege survey during the fall of 2020, garnering responses from 195k students with a response rate of 11%. Here’s what we learned:
- 58% of survey respondents reported at least one form of basic needs insecurity
- 34% experienced food insecurity within the previous 30 days
- 48% experienced housing insecurity within the past year
- 14% experienced homelessness within the past year
Additionally, 35% of survey respondents lost a job, while another 24% had their hours cut. The full report is available here.
The University of Montana was the only college in the state of Montana to participate in the #RealCollege 2020 survey, for the third year in a row. Over 1,400 UM students participated in the survey — a response rate of 15.2%. Here’s what they told us:
- 63% of respondents from UM experienced at least one form of basic needs insecurity
- 32% experienced food insecurity within the previous 30 days,
- 50% experienced housing insecurity in the previous year
- 23% experienced homelessness in the previous year
Additionally,
- Only 11% of food insecure students utilized SNAP
- 50% of students experiencing basic needs insecurity did not apply for campus supports because they did not know how
The full report is available here.
Over the past three years, basic needs insecurity at UM has been on par with (and even slightly higher than) the national average. These figures are pretty concerning, and you may be wondering: What is being done to address basic needs insecurity at U of M?
Well, we have been collaborating with other campus food pantries across the state to share resources and best practices. We have partnered with local organizations to build up our capacity & implement better systems of support. And we have a committed team of UM students, staff, faculty, and administrators who are currently working to expand the services offered at U of M in order to address more facets of basic needs insecurity.
The creation of the food pantry was an important first step in addressing food insecurity at U of M, and has since proven to be a vital resource for nearly 400 students. In just two years, we have expanded to several satellite locations, as well as being able to offer SNAP application support. Going forward, we hope to offer more assistance with housing issues, more support navigating & connecting to resources, more outreach & educational opportunities, and more advocacy for students’ basic needs.
There are unfortunately a lot of negative stereotypes about college students, but the reality is that students are people first, and it’s as tough as it’s ever been to be a college student right now. The Covid-19 pandemic has placed additional emotional and financial burdens on all of us. We want our students to know that we are here to support them, that they are not alone, and that it’s okay to ask for help. The #RealCollege data is very unsettling, but now that we have it, let’s use it as a catalyst for change.
