Like many of today’s learners, basic needs insecurity is a growing challenge for students on college campuses in New Mexico. According to a survey from the University of New Mexico’s Basic Needs Project, of the nearly 10,000 respondents, 5,802 are considered food insecure. Most alarming, 3,868 of students had very low food security, the most severe category characterized by hunger according to the United States Department of Agriculture.
More than 5,700 students were classified as housing insecure, and nearly 1,300 students had experienced homelessness during the past 12 months. Anxiety and depression affected at least one-third of respondents, despite most students reporting that they have social supports in their lives. One-half of students reported living with a disability, such as mental health conditions, learning disability, or chronic medical conditions.
Some groups of students had higher prevalence of basic needs insecurity than others, according to the report. Higher percentages of food insecurity, housing insecurity, and homelessness were found among students from tribal institutions compared to students at two-year or four-year institutions. Black and Native American students had the highest percentages of basic needs insecurity among the race and ethnicity groups.
The report includes several recommendations to help college improve basic needs insecurity, such as creating an office for basic needs at every New Mexico college and university, funding emergency grants to directly support students, and increasing outreach to students to help them connect with federal benefits.