Within the California State University (CSU) system, a focus on basic needs is comprehensive and ever-evolving. “Critical to student success at the CSU, the Basic Needs Initiative takes a holistic look at students’ well-being both inside and outside the classroom, from housing and food security to mental health,” their site says. “We’re working together to find better ways to support our students on their path to graduation.” Those ways include meeting students’ immediate food needs, providing emergency funds and housing, connecting students with resources and offering additional support, from cooking classes to wellness workshops, pop-up career clothing events, financial literacy workshops and more.
Through the Basic Needs Initiative site, students, faculty and staff can find resources to put into immediate action. Research is also featured to help determine solutions to support students’ basic needs. Amazon wish lists for different CSU campuses are available for those who want to assist financially.
CSU campuses engage in a wide variety of efforts to support students’ basic needs. They include offering food pantries or food distribution programs, making fresh fruit and vegetables available, allowing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) dollars to be used to purchase hot food, providing emergency grants and housing, hosting dedicated Basic Needs Centers, having case managers and crisis response teams available, and more.
Learn much more about CSU’s efforts here.
