- Unaffordable rent and unsafe living conditions are forcing college students who are caring for children, aging parents, or other dependents to move, threatening their ability to finish school.
- According to a new report from New America, among students who moved three or more times within the past year, 32 percent said it was because they could not afford the rent, and 23 percent said it was because the housing was unsafe. The problem was particularly pronounced for Black and Hispanic students and those who attend community college.
- The vast majority of caregiving students – 73 percent – said they didn’t know they could seek financial assistance from their school to help cover housing costs, according to the report. But even still, very few actually get assistance when they ask for it. The report says just 3 percent said they asked and received financial help from their college or university, while 4 percent said they asked and were denied.
The bigger picture:
The report calls on federal and state policymakers – as well as college and university leaders – to collect better data on student caregivers, allocate funds to meet their unique needs as caregivers, and conduct outreach to raise awareness about resources they can access on campus and in the community.
Housing insecurity among college students has gained attention in recent years, with recent reports showing an overwhelming 48% of college students are impacted. But less is known about how the issue affects college students who are caregivers, whom the New America report argues are virtually invisible to policymakers.
“That invisibility has a cost,” the report states. “When policymakers cannot see a population clearly, they cannot design the supports, funding structures, or data systems that population needs to succeed.”
It also says there’s a cost for students when they’re unaware of programs that can help cover the cost of housing.
“When students don’t know that more institutional support could be an option, they’re more likely to turn to short-term fixes, such as moving in with others, taking on additional work, or delaying enrollment, rather than accessing the timely support that could help them stay housed and stay enrolled.”
