Barriers to success: Housing Insecurity for U.S.

College Students

While research and data is very limited, the U.S has seen an increase in its homeless
college student population. College students across the nation struggle to find adequate,
affordable, stable housing options near the college in which they attend. In recent research,
researchers found at least 58,000 college students reported they were homeless. As enrollment
spike, on-campus housing construction has not met the increased enrollment, which forces
students to seek off-campus housing.

The Impact of Student Housing Insecurity

Students are disproportionately at risk for housing insecurity. Students tend to lack rental
history, savings for a security deposit, or someone to act as a guarantor. In 2011, students at City
University of New York (CUNY) were surveyed regarding housing insecurity. The survey data
shows that 41.7% of CUNYs students reported housing instability. They survey also shows
CUNY students are five time more likely to live in public housing than the average New Yorker
and three times as likely to live in a shelter.
Housing instability is particularly acute for those students who are emerging from the
foster care system. A number of students attend school while homeless. In fact, 56,000 students
indicated they were homeless on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) in 2013.
This figure almost certainly underestimates the true total. According to the U.S. Census Bureau,
from 2009 to 2011, 51.8% of students living off-campus and not with parents or relatives had
incomes below the poverty level. Low- income students unmet needs can often induce them to
enroll par-time, live off campus, and work long hours at a job. Unmet financial need can also

mean that students are unable to afford the necessary supplies for college such as note books,
computers, and text books, which in turn leads to a student dropping out.

Housing Assistance for Student

Federal housing Assistance for Students
Federal housing assistance programs have several restrictions that govern the eligibility
for students. Eligibility for students depends on the income of their parents, whether they are
enrolled full-time or part-time, and whether the household consist of several students.
Households of full-time students do not meet the requirements to live in Low-Income Housing
Tax Credit (LIHTC) units. LIHTC is the primary production program for affordable housing
nationwide. The rule exists to ensure affordable housing for those who are in most need. The
program provide a number of exclusions for students who are single parents, those who receive
Title IV Social Security benefits, or those who are former foster youth. The rule does not provide
exceptions for other vulnerable populations, including homeless or formerly homeless youth, and
veterans.

Program for Homeless Students

Programs and policies have been developed by state governments, nonprofits, and other
institutions in response to student housing needs. California state law requires colleges and
universities to give housing priority to foster youth, this includes vacation periods. In 2009,
colleges and universities in Colorado appointed a staff member as the campus Single Point to
Contact, which supports students who are experiencing homelessness. University of
Massachusetts Boston has implemented a U-ACCESS office, which provides case management,

services referral, and a food pantry for students experiencing nonacademic issues, including
homelessness. In Washington State, the Tacoma Housing Authority (THA) has partnered with
Tacoma Community College (TCC), the regions largest postsecondary educational institution, to
launch an innovative housing assistance program for students. Believed to be the first of its kind
in the United States, the Tacoma Community College Housing Assistance Program, started in the
fall of 2014, provides Housing Choice Vouchers for full-time TCC students who are homeless or
at risk of homelessness. Students must meet several requirements to participate, including but not
limited to (1) being homeless or at serious risk of homelessness, (2) enrolling in 12 or more
credit hours, (3) maintaining at least a 2.0 grade point average (GPA) and (4) meeting the
relevant HUD rules. Students must also participate in support workshops on topics such as
financial literacy. The college strives to build the group as a cohort that empowers peer advocacy
and mentorship.
Federal homelessness programs do not specifically focus on homeless college students.
Recent legislation, however, has improved homeless students access to financial aid and campus
supports. The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 made homeless students automatically
eligible for federal TRIO student support programs. Under the College Cost Reduction and
Access Act of 2007, unaccompanied homeless youth are automatically classified as independent
students. This change allows students to apply for financial aid without their parents or
guardians signatures and financial information, which can be very difficult for homeless youths
to obtain. Despite these changes, unfortunately, evidence indicates that homeless youths continue
to encounter administrative barriers when applying for postsecondary financial aid. For example,
in a 2013 survey, nearly 20 percent of homeless youth indicated that their colleges financial aid
office was unaware of these new policies.