Approximately 48% of college students experience housing insecurity or homelessness.
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According to recent studies, approximately 48% of college students experience housing insecurity or homelessness. This means that millions of students are struggling to find stable and affordable housing while simultaneously trying to earn their degrees.
One shocking fact is that housing insecurity is not limited to low-income students; even those from middle and upper-class families are experiencing this issue. The high cost of tuition, textbooks, and living expenses, combined with stagnant wages and a lack of affordable housing, make it incredibly difficult for college students to make ends meet.
The COVID-19 pandemic has only exacerbated this issue, with many students losing their part-time jobs and housing options becoming even more limited. In addition, federal and state funding for higher education has been cut in recent years, leading to fewer resources for students struggling to afford housing.
As The New York Times reports, “It’s a crisis that has been largely invisible to the public but is forcing students to choose between being homeless or dropping out, knowing that a college degree statistically leads to higher paying jobs and economic mobility.”
Here is a table showing the percentage of college students experiencing housing insecurity by state:
| State | Percentage of College Students with Housing Insecurity |
|---|---|
| California | 60% |
| Hawaii | 56% |
| Massachusetts | 50% |
| New York | 48% |
| Oregon | 47% |
| Washington | 46% |
As former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro once said, “Homelessness is not just a problem for individuals, but for communities and our nation as a whole. In order to address it, we must tackle its root causes: a lack of affordable housing, limited access to healthcare and jobs, and disparities in our criminal justice system.”
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Three in five college students experience housing insecurity. While stress is a normal part of college for most students, the inability to meet basic needs like having a safe place to sleep creates additional hardship and prolonged stress.
According to The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice’s #RealCollegeSurvey, published in March 2021, 52% of students at two-year colleges and 43% of students at four-year institutions experienced some form of housing insecurity in fall 2020. Another survey from student loyalty network, Student Beans, found that 1 in 5 students have dealt with housing insecurity. A survey conducted by the Wisconsin HOPE Lab found that 36% of all college students and 46% of community college students were considered to be housing insecure.
Fifty-two percent of students at two-year colleges experienced some form of housing insecurity in fall 2020, along with 43% of students at four-year institutions, according to The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice’s #RealCollegeSurvey, published in March 2021.
Where college students used to fear a budget-friendly ramen noodle diet, now 1 in 5 students have dealt with housing insecurity, according to a recent survey from student loyalty network, Student Beans.
Researchers found that 36 percent of all college students and 46 percent of community college students were considered to be housing insecure.
Response video to “What percentage of college students are housing insecure?”
In this video, Terrianna Singletary discusses how housing and food insecurity on college campuses disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and POC students. Singletary suggests reducing the stigma around homelessness, establishing emergency support services, and understanding why certain groups experience housing insecurity at higher rates. Non-profit programs such as Swipe Out Hunger and Kennesaw State University’s CARE Services program are highlighted for providing temporary and long-term housing and career matching. Singletary calls on listeners to raise awareness and explore further resources on addressing housing insecurity on college campuses.
In addition, people are interested
What percent of college students live in poverty?
In reply to that: In 2021, about four percent of the people with a Bachelor’s degree or higher were living below the poverty line in the United States. This is far below the poverty rate of those without a high school diploma which was 27.2 percent in 2021.
How many students feel unsafe on campus?
Response will be: In a new BestColleges survey of 1,000 current and prospective undergraduate and graduate students, more than half (56%) say that they worry about campus safety. And 65% say that school shootings in particular make them concerned for their safety on campus.
What percent of students are insecure?
The answer is: A new report from the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University shows the pandemic’s impact on college students’ food and housing struggles, finding that 58 percent of students experienced basic needs insecurity in fall 2020.
What percent of college students end up homeless?
Response: 14% of students at two- and four-year institutions experience homelessness, according to a recent survey. Photo/Gus Ruelas. For homeless college students, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated an escalating crisis.
Are college students facing housing insecurity?
In 2020, just over half (52%) of two-year students faced housing insecurity, compared to 43% of students at four-year universities. The most common challenge among college students facing housing insecurity was being able to afford the full amount of their rent, bills, and/or mortgage.
Which states have the most housing insecurity?
Response will be: Florida leads the pack for states with the highest share of students facing housing insecurity: Housing-related stress can be daunting, not just making it difficult for students to be physically present on campus, but to focus on their studies as well.
Are college students at risk of basic needs insecurity?
Answer to this: Around 3 in 5 college students faced some form of basic needs insecurity in 2020. Two-year college students consistently report higher rates of housing and food insecurity. Those at highest risk of basic needs insecurity include LGBTQ+ and Indigenous students. Students experiencing homelessness still can get federal financial aid for college.
How many college students lack housing?
Answer will be: More than a 1/3 of college students in the United States lack enough to eat and stable housing.
Are college students facing housing insecurity?
As a response to this: In 2020, just over half (52%) of two-year students faced housing insecurity, compared to 43% of students at four-year universities. The most common challenge among college students facing housing insecurity was being able to afford the full amount of their rent, bills, and/or mortgage.
Which states have the most housing insecurity?
Florida leads the pack for states with the highest share of students facing housing insecurity: Housing-related stress can be daunting, not just making it difficult for students to be physically present on campus, but to focus on their studies as well.
Are college students at risk of basic needs insecurity?
Response: Around 3 in 5 college students faced some form of basic needs insecurity in 2020. Two-year college students consistently report higher rates of housing and food insecurity. Those at highest risk of basic needs insecurity include LGBTQ+ and Indigenous students. Students experiencing homelessness still can get federal financial aid for college.
Why is food and housing insecurity a systemic problem?
Response will be: This is a systemic problem.” Another reason that food and housing insecurity has increased among college students is that more low-income students are attending college in the first place — effectively forcing college campuses to face issues related to poverty potentially for the first time.