Data from Temple University’s Hope Center for College shows that in just one month last year, 22.6 percent of undergraduate and 112.2 percent of graduate students experienced food insecurity.

Housing insecurity among college students is also a growing concern.

To combat this growing crisis, two Montgomery County colleges and several community partners have established the College Student Basic Needs Program, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

Gwynedd Mercy University and Montgomery County Community College are hoping that other suburban colleges will join with them.

“The College Student Basic Needs Program helps under-resourced college students experiencing food and housing insecurity to stay in school, succeed academically, graduate, and obtain better-paying employment in the future,” said Wendy Gaynor, the executive director of the program.

“As one might imagine, if you’re trying to cram for a bio exam, it’s really tough when you don’t know if you’re going to be able to pay next month’s rent,” she added.

Both schools had already started their own food pantry, but wanted to address more of the obstacles students were facing housing insecurity and lack of access to health services.

The College Student Basic Needs Program has now expanded to include a seven-member consortium, including Manna on Main Street, Pottstown Cluster of Religious Communities, and Montco Anti-Hunger Network.

Read more about the College Student Basic Needs Program at these local colleges at WHYY.

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