Basic Needs Research

According to the definitions of various institutions cited below, “basic needs” can be defined as any material or environmental need that is required for individuals to maintain their health and well-being. This can include consistent access to nutritious food, affordable and safe housing, access to reliable transportation, ability to receive healthcare, and a variety of other needs. When an individual is unable to access their basic needs, they are experiencing basic needs insecurity. Below is a short list of the leading institutions involved in basic needs research, and examples of their most recent findings, particularly among college students.

Cargas, Sarita, Marygold Walsh-Dilley, Heather Mechler, Kathryn Coakley, Shoshana Adler Jaffe, and Ann Murphy. 2020. “Basic Needs Insecurity at UNM: 2020 Research Report.” Research. Albuquerque, NM: University of New Mexico. https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/RCReport2021.pdf.

“Basic needs insecurity [is] uncertain or inadequate access to safe food and housing….”

Goldrick-Rab, S., & Cady, C. (2018). Supporting Community College Completion with a Culture of Caring: “A Case Study of Amarillo College.” In Online Submission.

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. 2018. “Guide to Assessing Basic Needs Insecurity in Higher Education.” White Paper 2018. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. 2019. “College and University Basic Needs Insecurity: A National #RealCollege Survey Report.” White Paper 2019. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. 2020. “The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice: #RealCollege2020: Five Years of Evidence on Campus Basic Needs Insecurity.” White Paper 2020. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University.

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice. 2021. “The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice: #RealCollege2021: Basic Needs Insecurity During the Ongoing Pandemic.” White Paper 2021. Philadelphia, PA: Temple University. https://hope4college.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/RCReport2021.pdf.

“Students’ basic needs include access to nutritious and sufficient food; safe, secure, and adequate housing—to sleep, to study, to cook, and to shower; healthcare to promote sustained mental and physical well-being; affordable technology and transportation; resources for personal hygiene; and childcare and related needs.”

Coleman-Jensen, Alisha, Matthew P. Rabbitt, Christian A. Gregory, and Anita Singh. 2020. “Household Food Security in the United States in 2020.” 2020. http://www.ers.usda.gov/publications/pub-details/?pubid=102075.

“Most U.S. households have consistent, dependable access to enough food for active, healthy living—they are food secure. However, some households experience food insecurity at times during the year, meaning their access to adequate food is limited by a lack of money and other resources.”

Food-insecure households:

“Food-insecure households (those with low and very low food security) had difficulty at some time during the year providing enough food for all their members because of a lack of resources.”

Very low food security:

"In this more severe range of food insecurity, the food intake of some household members was reduced, and normal eating patterns were disrupted at times during the year because of limited resources."

Food Insecurity Task Force: SUNY Final Report 2019. (2019). Food Insecurity Task Force: Final Report to the Board of Trustees.

University of California Basic Needs Annual Report 2023 University of California. (2023). Basic needs annual report, January 2023. https://regents.universityofcalifornia.edu/regmeet/mar23/b1attach.pdf

University of California. (2017). UC Global Food Initiative: Food and Housing Security at the UCOP. https://www.ucop.edu/global-food-initiative/_files/food-housing-security-exec-summary.pdf