California Community Colleges #RealCollege Survey Report (March 2019)
More than 50% of CCC Students Experience Food Insecurity, almost 20% Faced Homelessness
Nearly 40,000 students from 57 CCC participated in the #RealCollege Survey in fall of 2016 and 2018. This new assessment of basic needs security from the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that 52% had experienced food insecurity; 60% had experienced housing insecurity; and 19% had experienced homelessness.
Overall, 7 in 10 student respondents said that they had experienced food insecurity or housing insecurity or homelessness in the last year. The study’s authors also drew a strong correlation between food and housing challenges and academic success.
The #RealCollege Survey highlights the need for financial aid reform at the community college level. “This new report should serve as a call to action for fixing the state’s outdated financial aid system and expanding need-based assistance for community college students. No student should face hunger or homelessness. California must do better,” said CCC Chancellor Eloy Ortiz Oakley.