Submitted By JC Wortham of the Evergreen Basic Needs Student Team
The Evergreen State College, like many schools across the country, got hit with the brunt of the impacts of the pandemic. This exasperates a lot of issues and hardships students faced even before the pandemic. Though organizations and schools became more aware of these issues, without data and proof, little could actually be done.
Well, proof has arrived!
Evergreen participated in The Hope Center for College, Community, & Justice Basic Needs Insecurity Survey known as the #RealCollege Survey that was available during October 2020, and the results were delivered in March of 2021. They were officially sent out on April 15th to staff, faculty and students.
A total of 306 students participated in the survey – resulting in a 13.9% response rate. Considering the pandemic this is a very good response rate. This survey is specific to our community and we would like to share the results because they are relevant to our students and peers.
With the current pandemic, many students nationally are dealing with more insecurity about their basic needs. Increased depression and anxiety, trouble concentrating in online classes, and economic stress placed on everyone nationally, many being laid-off or having their hours cut can make it more difficult to access education and more difficult to meet one’s basic needs.
56% of Evergreen students reporting experienced anxiety, 50% experienced depression.
84% had difficulty concentrating on class.
62% of students with part-time employment lost their jobs. 30% of students with full-time employment lost their jobs.
53% of parenting students reported missing work or class due to childcare arrangements.
67% of students AT TESC experienced basic needs insecurity.
36% experienced food insecurity
58% reported housing insecurity
23% homelessness.
These are the statistics we want to highlight from the survey because they influence each other greatly. With the overwhelming worries of finishing school, many students having to work to support themselves, not knowing where their next meal will come, or the uncertainty if they will afford the roof over their head and then having the lack of access and information about programs to help with those needs.
Then add on top, is the perpetuated stigma about assistance programs. Many of us often are taught that programs that assist with basic need insecurity are only for people who go through the worst of insecurity, the first image you think is people on the street, living in tents. But these stereotypes are harmful. This shame then becomes instilled in people when they seek out assistance programs like SNAP or even visiting the Thurston County Food Bank, that they don’t fit these stereotypes so they feel guilty taking up and using these resources, thinking they are limited and only for people who “really need it.” This idea of putting others before our own needs because if we do not we are selfish.
The leaders of The Evergreen State College need to address basic needs insecurity on campus. To direct funding to student services such as the Basic Needs Center, Student Wellness Services, Academic Advising, etc. and create assistance programs to access meal plans and housing. Evergreen needs not only to state they care for the wellbeing of their students but prove with actions. To set an example for institutions all over America to care for their students by making information and resources more accessible, but we also need to dismantle the shame and guilt of using these resources. That student’s worth and validity is not through how much they work and sacrifice, that everyone deserves to have their basic needs met because they are living breathing human beings.
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