Basic Needs

Students are humans first. They deserve access to basic needs—food, housing, child care, transportation, and other financial support—that allow them to learn and succeed.

Join our Basic Needs Communities of Practice

As more than four million college students struggle with basic needs insecurity, many higher education institutions and states are responding with new and reimagined programs, community partnerships, and policies. But few of these interventions leverage emerging evidence for lasting change.

Working side by side with our team, you can draw on our expertise in postsecondary basic needs research and practice to create and refine programs and policies. We take time to understand what your students need, then use the latest evidence from the field to deliver effective, relevant technical assistance, communities of practice, and applied research.

Our Work is Guided by Three Student-centered Goals

Improve understanding of how basic needs insecurity affects students, including its impact on classroom learning, engagement, and sense of belonging
Advance knowledge of key cross-sectoral activities to address basic needs insecurity, how to implement activities effectively and efficiently, and how to maximize equitable use of services
Use data and evidence to measure and improve the impact of basic needs support activities

Basic Needs Services

Communities of Practice

Many basic needs practitioners work in isolation at their college or university. To build a network of support, in early 2024 we will launch a free national community of practice. Together, we will work through problems of practice guided by research and data. This project builds on the highly successful #RealCollege conferences held prior to the pandemic.

Technical Assistance and Professional Development

Gain knowledge and build skills needed to implement effective, evidence-based basic needs programs and supports for college students in your community. Contact us to learn more.

Applied Research and Related Services

Let us help you assess basic needs insecurity, examine equitable program use, evaluate current practices, and scale your work using data. Contact us to learn more.

#RealCollege Resources

#RealCollege Survey Guide and Questions

Do you want to assess your students’ needs for support with food, housing, child care, transportation, and mental health? Are you seeking information on which services and supports students use, to identify gaps in their use, and to examine reasons for those challenges? Use our free guide to learn how to field the nation’s leading postsecondary basic needs survey instrument.

College Basic Needs LinkedIn Group

Connect and collaborate in this group—open to anyone and everyone who cares about and commits to supporting students as humans first.

Building a clear path toward equitable education for all, together

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Explore Our Basic Needs Work

Webinar: Supporting Students’ Basic Needs with Case Management

A growing number of professionals working on and around college campuses are using case management to support students’ basic needs. Doing that work well requires a way to capture, track, and assess multiple types of data.
Homelessness and Housing Insecurity Among Community College Students

Evaluating the College Housing Assistance Program in Tacoma, which provided housing vouchers to students experiencing homelessness.
Basic Needs Supports for Parenting Students

Ten recommendations for supporting college students who are parents—plus statistics to help you advocate for systems change to scale that assistance.
Partnering to Support Students Holistically

Colleges and universities are partnering with community-based organizations to support students holistically—including their basic needs. We looked at what makes these partnerships successful.
Basic Needs Services Implementation Rubric

The ECMC Foundation launched the Basic Needs Initiative in fall 2019. Through the three-year initiative, a group of seven grantees will receive funding and support to build systemic, sustainable solutions for meeting college students’ basic needs.
National Postsecondary Student Aid Study Webinar

The National Center for Education Statistics asked students if they had enough to eat and a safe place to sleep and the data shows that students across the nation are enduring food and housing insecurity.
ECMC Foundation Basic Needs Initiative Evaluation

Many college students struggle to afford the full cost of college attendance, which includes tuition and fees as well as food, housing, transportation, access to the internet, and other living expenses.
Trauma-Informed Practices for Postsecondary Education: A Guide

Raise your awareness on trauma in postsecondary education institutions and how trauma affects learning and development and learn strategies to work effectively with college students who have been exposed to trauma.