Homelessness and Housing Insecurity in Higher Education: A Trauma‐Informed Approach to Research, Policy, and Practice

Addressing Community College Completion Rates by Securing Students’ Basic Needs

“…Consider placing a basic needs security statement on each syllabus, to make students aware of existing services and help educate the faculty at the same time (Berman, ) . A trauma‐informed approach to serving students, especially those who have experienced homelessness, is especially important (Hallett & Crutchfield, ).…”

The Case for a Single Point of Contact for College Students Experiencing Homelessness

“…This study focuses on the experiences of students attending Northern California Community College (NCCC), a pseudonym. Given the lack of federal policy defining homelessness in higher education, we drew from Hallett and Crutchfield's () housing continuum that provides an inclusive approach to identifying and understanding homelessness and housing insecurity among college students. The students in this study fit within that definition of homelessness, which includes living in garages or cars, residing on the street, and couch surfing.…”

“…The director will need training to understand issues related to food and housing insecurity as well as potentially visiting campuses that employ promising practices related to supporting individuals needing basic needs assistance. We have previously argued for a trauma‐informed approach in support these students (Hallett & Crutchfield, ; Hallett & Skrla, ). Recognizing the presence of trauma involves addressing more than just immediate needs.…”

“…Community college educators across the United States are becoming more aware of homelessness and housing insecurity among students on their campuses. Drawing from previous research (Hallett & Crutchfield, ), we define college homelessness and housing insecurity as living arrangements that are unstable and unsafe (e.g., couch surfing, abandoned buildings, homeless shelters, and cars or garages). Advocates, practitioners, and policymakers are seeking effective ways to respond to the emerging reality that individuals often negotiate life as a student without residential stability.…”

Responses to Hunger on the Community College Campus

“…This can put increased pressure on students to prioritize food and housing needs in relation to their other needs, such as buying books and completing assignments (Hallett & Freas, ). The impact of housing insecurity on these students can also be far reaching (Hallett & Crutchfield, ) and is discussed in other chapters in this volume.…”