Basic Needs Standards for Housing and Food-Insecure Students: A Necessity in Uncertain Times

Higher education opens doors and creates a path for opportunity; however, many students find that basic necessities of life—stable housing, nutritious food, and financial security—are increasingly out of reach. With economic disparity, the lingering effects of a global pandemic, and the intensifying frequency of climate-related disasters, it is crucial that colleges and universities support students’ basic needs not only for academic success but for holistic well-being.

The Growing Crisis of Housing and Food InsecurityWith three in five college students experiencing basic needs insecurity, creating a strong support system is essential. Studies indicate that a significant portion of college students experience housing and food insecurity. The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice reported in 2020 that nearly 39% of students at two-year colleges and 29% of students at four-year institutions had experienced food insecurity in the past month. These struggles were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused many students to lose their jobs or face eviction.

Additionally, climate change is making these hardships even worse for students in many areas of the country. Extreme weather events—such as hurricanes, wildfires, and heatwaves—are displacing students and their families, disrupting access to food, and making affordable housing even scarcer. Without a robust safety net, students are left to navigate these crises alone, often at the expense of their education and well-being.

Why Basic Needs Standards Matter
Institutions of higher education are increasingly considering how to support students who are struggling due to insecurities in basic needs, also referred to as “non-tuition” or “non-academic supports,” “material hardships,” or “essential needs.” To address the adverse effect of basic needs gaps on students’ success, institutions are increasingly establishing and expanding structures to address students’ basic needs. As staff and faculty work to understand the complexity of basic needs and the programs and services needed to address them, institutions of higher education must critically examine their role in addressing basic needs insecurity and the opportunity to re-envision structures and practices. Basic needs programs and services range from providing material goods (e.g., food pantries, diaper distributions) or individual assistance (e.g., Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), enrollment navigation, case management) to campus policies that address systemic barriers faced by students (e.g., early disbursement of financial aid, use of FAFSA information to enroll students in public benefits). The categories that fall under the basic needs umbrella and the efforts to address those needs vary from institution to institution.
Recognizing the structural variety of basic needs work, CAS’s Basic Needs Standards provide both a pragmatic and aspirational approach to how a basic needs functional area might be structured and supported in a variety of environments. The accompanying Self-Assessment Guide (SAG) provides an operational version of the standards and is designed to provide users with an assessment tool that can be used for self-study or self-assessment purposes.
With economic instability, climate emergencies, and food and housing insecurity on the rise, basic needs in higher education must become a core component of institutional policy. Education is a powerful tool for social mobility and opportunity, but without meeting students' fundamental needs, many are at risk of being left behind.