About Basic Needs at UNH

"It is a fundamental human right to access resources necessary for survival and well-being."
Dr. Kenneth Holmes, Senior Vice Provost for Student Life at UNH

The Basic Needs program seeks to support students through prevention, intervention and emergency relief efforts. We acknowledge that the lack of basic needs is a systemic issue, not an individual one. Basic needs insecurity can stem from a variety of underlying factors, including income inequality, rising living expenses, and other issues. It is often not a result of personal choices or actions. We know how important it is for your basic needs to be met so you can focus on your education and other life goals. 

In 2023, the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (2020 NPSAS) released the first ever nationally representative estimates of food insecurity and homelessness affecting the nation's college students. In Spring 2020, for the first time, the study asked students questions to assess their experiences with food insecurity and homelessness. The sample includes students enrolled at any time between July 1, 2019, and June 30, 2020, at higher education institutions participating in federal financial aid programs. In total, 80,760 undergraduates completed surveys, a sample representing about 17.1 million undergraduates. In addition, 19,700 graduate students (representing 3.6 million) completed surveys.

As long suspected, the rates are higher for college students than the broader public and impacts every type of college and university as well as cuts across student demographics and even traditional measures of income and financial need. They found, 

• 23% of undergraduates and 12% of graduate students experienced food insecurity
• 8% of undergraduates and 5% of graduate students experienced homelessness
• Basic Needs insecurity affects 35% of Black/African American Students, 30% of Native American students and 25% of Hispanic students
• Those at highest risk of basic needs insecurity include LGBTQ+ and Indigenous students.

Source: Food Insecurity and Homelessness in American Higher Education: An Overview of New Nationally Representative Estimates (2023)

Definitions: 

Food Insecurity: Food insecurity refers to limited or uncertain availability of foods that are nutritionally adequate or safe, as well as a person's ability to obtain these foods in a socially acceptable way. Food insecurity is a systemic issue that can happen to anyone, not a personal failure. According to Feeding America's Elevating Voices Report, people facing hunger struggle with high living costs, expensive housing, unemployment, and low-wage jobs. Even people with a steady income and access to affordable housing can experience a temporary setback that leads to food insecurity, including job loss, medical emergency, natural disaster or family crisis.

Houseless or Unhoused: a person who lacks a consistent and safe nighttime residence. This can include couch surfing, staying temporarily with friends or family, a college student who does not have a consistent and safe place to go during school breaks, someone who stays in many different places, as well as staying in a homeless shelter, car, or sleeping outside. Visit this link to learn the difference between Homeless, Houseless or Unhoused

Housing Insecurity: Housing insecurity encompasses broader challenges related to a student's place of residence. These can include being unable to pay rent or utilities on time, occupying a residence with others beyond its official capacity, and moving three or more times in a given year. The most common challenge among college students facing housing insecurity was being able to afford the full amount of their rent, bills, and/or mortgage. Experiencing “housing instability” means having a place to live, but facing instability, uncertainty or unsuitability in one’s living conditions.

Person First Language : When referring to people who are without shelter, person-first language is important. For this issue, they will be described as a “person experiencing homelessness” instead of a “homeless person.” This is done as a reminder that their condition does not define them and that they are first and foremost a human being.  It is important to emphasize that there is a broad range of experiences when it comes to people who are unhoused or without shelter. While the general public might think of houselessness primarily as people sleeping rough on the streets or within an encampment, there are also hidden components of houselessness. This includes those who “couch surf” temporarily with friends or family or the working houseless who live in their vehicles. Living without shelter generally is not a choice, and the experience is incredibly challenging. 

Learn more about student houselessness and food insecurity