IVC’s Basic Needs Center (BNC) serves as a hub for students experiencing housing insecurity, financial burdens, or any other challenges that hinder a student’s ability to fully engage in their educational journey. Our core services are grounded in the belief that before a student can be expected to succeed in an academic setting, it is imperative that their basic needs are not only met but prioritized.
Despite state and local efforts to address poverty, homelessness, and food insecurity among California college students, a new report reveals that more than two out of every three students in the state face trouble meeting at least one basic need. The study was conducted by the CEO Affordability, Food & Housing Access Taskforce of the Community College League of California (CCLC) and administered by the RP Group, a research and planning professional organization. Over 66,000 students from 88 colleges across the state, including IVC, responded to the survey revealing alarming results, such as nearly half of CCC students are food insecure, almost 3 out of 5 are housing insecure, and about 1 in 4 are homeless.
On the positive side, food insecurity rates have declined slightly since 2019 (from 50% to 47%), with reductions likely related to the concentrated efforts to tackle food insecurity, such as IVC’s Food Resource Center and IVC Cares Food Distribution Days. Additionally, in 2023, students experiencing food insecurity were nearly twice as likely to receive CalFresh monthly food benefits compared to 2019. This increase may be attributed, in part, to colleges raising awareness and advocating for these services, as well as providing application assistance for CalFresh. While housing insecurity rates are slightly lower than pre-pandemic, the increase in homelessness may indicate that students who previously identified as housing insecure may have reached a new level of insecurity.
The rates of basic needs insecurity vary considerably across different student demographic groups, with insecurities highest among African American/Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native students, LGBTQ+ students (notably transgender students), and students previously convicted of a crime. Additionally, basic needs insecurity rates are much higher among single parents.
At IVC, the Basic Needs Center stands as a testament to the institution’s commitment to the well-being of its students. One of the center's key services is an on-campus Food Resource Center, offering nutritious and culturally preferred food options to students in need. Additionally, the center provides grocery cards, empowering students to choose and purchase their own groceries according to their preferences and dietary needs. To serve this growing need we expanded our facility from 309 sq. ft. to 1,203 sq. ft. resulting in a space four times its original size.
In addition to the food pantry, the Basic Needs Center services also include:
- Emergency housing assistance in the form of hotel vouchers for up to six nights with a contracted hotel as well as connection to community partners for longer term housing support.
- Individual appointments for additional resources and case management support.
- Support five snack hubs throughout campus.
- Student staff and/or volunteers providing peer-to-peer support.
- CalFresh enrollment support.
- Large scale campus events including “IVC Cares” food giving events.
- Community partnerships including local food banks, clothing resources, wraparound care, shelters, medical and dental resources, childcare, and more.
In the coming weeks, we will analyze the IVC student responses in comparison to the statewide results. This will guide and inform our understanding of how we adapt to meet the basic needs of our students and determine if the impact was greatest across different student demographic groups. These results will be shared and discussed in various settings.
I encourage you to become familiar with the full array of basic needs resources available at IVC to connect students with relevant services to meet their needs. As stated in the IVC Basic Needs Plan, let us recommit toward a future where every student has the resources they need to excel thereby unlocking their full potential to achieve their academic goals.
Best,
John
Sources:
Affordability, Food, and Housing Access Taskforce Report, Real College California: Basic Needs Among California Community College Students, September 2023.
Irvine Valley College 2023-2026 Basic Needs Plan