Essential Needs Program

Saint Mary’s College’s (SMC) Essential Needs Program seeks to improve students’ overall experience at SMC by sharing information and resources to anticipate essential needs-related insecurities and intervene before a Saint Mary’s College student experiences a crisis.

The U.S. Education Department’s 2023 National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS) essentially confirms that college students face higher food and housing insecurity rates than the general population. Data shows that roughly 22.6% of undergraduates and 12.2% of graduate students experience food insecurity, while 8% of undergraduates and 4.6% of graduate students experience homelessness.

Essential needs refer to crucial resources required for a student’s holistic success. Core essential needs include safety, financial health, access to food and housing, and overall holistic well-being (physical, psychological, and spiritual). Essential needs are fluid and often extend beyond this core and may include technology, clothing, childcare, transportation, legal services, and more. For students to be able to focus on their individual growth and academic ambitions, their essential needs must be consistently met.

With the rising cost of a college education and the skyrocketing cost of living in the Bay Area, students face increasing precarity levels while pursuing a college degree. Your donation will contribute to a student support fund for our Saint Mary’s students. This will support students’ secure access to food, housing, health care, hygiene products, textbooks, and the ability to pay unexpected medical, housing, and educational expenses.

For more information and resources, check out our Essential Needs Program website.