Penn State study unveils food and housing insecurities among students

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – A fall 2022 study conducted by Penn State Student Affairs brought light to the food and housing insecurities among students, revealing a concerning reality faced by a significant percentage of the student body.

Kassandra Vasellas, a first-year student, expressed her deep concern about the study's findings, particularly highlighting a startling statistic: "More than 14% of students indicated that within the last 30 days, they did not eat for an entire day due to the inability to afford food. I also think it is crazy that a lot of students have to work many hours to be able to afford basic needs."

This statistic stemmed from the responses of 17,231 students surveyed for fall 2022, where 2,412 students indicated that financial constraints led them to go without food for an entire day.

As the end of the fall 2023 semester approaches, there is a collective effort to prevent this number from escalating, with numerous resources available at Penn State that can assist any student in need. However, there remains a gap in a student's knowledge about these resources.

Ayden Meise, also a first-year student, highlighted this gap, expressing awareness of resources such as the Lion Pantry to combat food scarcity but admitted, "I am not aware of any that help students with housing issues," shedding light on the lack of information available for students about various resources available besides the Lion Pantry.

Penn State Student Affairs website offers a range of resources under Basic Needs & Support, including assistance with food and rental support. Additionally, students who wish to support their struggling peers can donate to the Lion Pantry, contributing to alleviating these challenges.

Victor Bender, another first-year student, shared a personal connection to the cause, mentioning, “My parents donated [to the Lion Pantry] when they came over for parents' weekend,” illustrating his family’s involvement in addressing these pressing issues.

As universities nationwide contend with diverse challenges, the findings from this study emphasize the necessity for broader awareness of available support systems and initiatives to tackle the pressing issues of food and housing insecurity within academic institutions.

Cora Rodriguez is a first-year student majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email cir5381@psu.edu.