Over One-Third of US Students Don’t Have Enough to Eat

The report also found that 46 percent of community college students and 36 percent of university students are housing insecure, which means they could be dealing with a large range of housing issues – such as struggling to pay bills, being at risk of eviction, frequently moving homes, or being homeless.

Shockingly, nine percent of university students and 12 percent of community college students reported being homeless at some point in the last year, with three percent of students saying they’ve slept in an abandoned building, car or elsewhere during their studies. 21 percent of these homeless students felt unsafe where they live.

It’s clear that both food and housing insecurities can have serious, detrimental effects on studies as well as health and well-being, with Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of higher-education policy at Temple University and the lead author of the report, telling NPR:

"It really undermines their ability to do well in school. Their grades suffer, their test scores appear to be lower, and overall, their chances of graduating are slimmer. They can barely escape their conditions of poverty long enough to complete their degrees."

It’s no secret that living costs and tuition fees in the US are high - according to the latest figures from College Board, students at community colleges (the most affordable option for higher education) will spend an average of $11,970 on tuition fees, room and board each year.

While the results of this survey cannot reflect all students, similar studies show a clear pattern. For example, 40 percent of students in the University of California system have reported being food insecure.

The researchers point out that hunger at university isn’t a new issue, but appears to be “systemic” and getting worse, with increasing college costs and inadequate financial aid packages blamed for the problem. Competition for part-time jobs is also high, making it more difficult for students to self-fund.

And while more lower-income students are attending university thanks to needs-based scholarships and grants, it’s clear that this financial aid is often simply not enough to make ends meet for many students.

Researchers also point out the importance of universities recognizing and responding to the problems of hunger and homelessness faced by their students, particularly as students who face these issues seem to show a great deal of resilience and work just as hard as their peers.

Goldrick-Rab says: “The level of academic effort — in and outside the classroom — is the same regardless of whether or not students are dealing with food and housing insecurity. It’s therefore critically important to match their commitments with supports to ensure degree completion.”

Universities and colleges are already taking steps to help students in need, with financial instability well known as one of the main reasons a student might drop out. Some are offering more low-cost options or free food vouchers in their dining halls, while in New York City, St. John’s University offers an emergency fund that disburses small, one-time grants to students with unforeseen expenses. In Washington D.C, George Washington University has opened a food pantry for in-need students to obtain free food.

However, many advocates are concerned that institutions still aren’t doing enough.