File photo
File photo
According to a recent report published by the Dallas Observer, nearly half of the college students in America don't have a reliable or affordable place to live. The report also reveals that four out of 10 students aren't eating as well as they should.
Additionally, 17% of college students in America have reportedly been without housing in the past year. With the rising student debt, many students can't afford the basics of life.
A recent survey reveals that 227 colleges and universities nationwide have students who have nowhere to live. The survey includes students in the Dallas County Community College District.
The report was released in February. The survey was conducted by Temple University's "Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice."
The report highlights what researchers say is "a previously invisible crisis of basic needs insecurity." The researchers suggest this crisis has the potential to disrupt the careers of a huge number of college students. Leaders in the higher education field say the crisis is visible at colleges in Texas.
J.J. Larson, associate director of student services for the health and well-being of students at Richland College, says hungry students can't study.
"When students are hungry, they're not focused or concentrating," Larson said.
While gathering data for the survey, researchers conducted online surveys presented to over 167,000 students. The survey revealed that 39% of the students said they hadn't eaten well in the past 30 days. Additionally, 46% said they had been homeless at some point in the previous year.
The survey shows that 5% of the college students who are attending a two-year college and 2% of the college students attending four-year colleges reported they'd gone a whole day without eating at least three times in the previous 30 days. The majority of these students say the reason was due to them not having the money to buy food.
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