Results from a recent survey that evaluated the access to affordable food and housing among college students has revealed that 71 percent of Blue Mountain Community College (BMCC) student respondents have experienced some degree of food and housing insecurity or homelessness.
BMCC was one of 14 Oregon community colleges that participated in the #RealCollege survey administered in the fall of 2019, a subset of 227 two- and four-year colleges surveyed across the country by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice, to gather data on the basic needs of students. Food insecurity is defined as having limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner. Housing insecurity includes a broad set of housing challenges that prevent someone from having a safe, affordable, and consistent place to live.
Most colleges and universities are striving to build enrollment and increase college completion rates. Efforts include changes to student advising practices, the structure of academic programs and teaching, and the strategic use of scholarships. But until recently, few institutions identified basic needs insecurity as a significant challenge keeping students from obtaining credentials. In 2018, the U.S. Government Accountability Office issued a report on food insecurity among college students stating that “increasing evidence indicates that some college students are experiencing food insecurity, which can negatively impact their academic success.”
BMCC conducted an internal study on food insecurity among its students in the fall of 2017, the results of which showed that 47 percent of students said they had gone without food, skipped a meal or didn’t have enough food within the past 30 days. The #RealCollege survey that polled BMCC students in fall 2019 indicated that 43 percent of students experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days. This same survey found that 50 percent of respondents reported at least one type of housing insecurity, 17 percent of respondents experienced homelessness within the past year, and 71 percent experienced both food and housing insecurity or homelessness within the past 12 months.
The study found that female BMCC students are more likely to experience food or housing insecurity than male students, but that male students are more likely to experience homelessness than females. Latinx students reported the highest rates of food and housing insecurity, while American Indian students reported the highest rates of homelessness.
The #RealCollege survey found that the rates of food insecurity among community college students in Oregon range between 35 percent and 57 percent.
The most prevalent housing insecurity issues reported by students were the inability to pay utility bills in full, not able to pay rent or mortgage in full, had a rent or mortgage increase making payment difficult, or moved into with others due to financial problems. Students often have limited incomes and unpredictable part time work while in college, making price increases and fluctuating bills problematic. While many have financial aid, this funding is not enough to cover living expenses and does not rise as housing costs rise.
As a result of the BMCC 2017 food insecurity, BMCC researched campus food pantries around the Northwest and acquired grant funding to develop “The Den,” a pantry with non-perishable food and personal hygiene items that opened in the fall of 2018 in Morrow Hall on the Pendleton campus. Smaller pantries have also opened in each of BMCC’s center locations in Umatilla, Morrow and Baker counties.
BMCC has also worked to provide students with education on healthy foods and meal preparation, awareness about and assistance with SNAP, and healthier options in vending machines, which also now have credit card readers for those without cash. In addition, the BMCC Foundation has been able to provide some assistance through grocery gift cards, emergency funds, and scholarships.
The college will now take the time to further evaluate the results of the #RealCollege survey to determine how it will address food and housing insecurity among its students moving forward.
“College is challenging enough on its own, so dealing with food and housing insecurity isn’t an added stress we want our students to face as they work toward their educational goals,” said BMCC President Dennis Bailey-Fougnier. “BMCC will continue to pursue ways to support our students who face these challenges.”
