With support from the ECMC Foundation, Dr. Sara Abelson and The Hope team are examining and advocating for federal grants for colleges to help meet students' basic needs. Our research aims to document whether federal grants for addressing basic needs such as food, housing, and mental health are sufficient and equitably allocated.  

We are focused on programs such as the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students ("Basic Needs Grant") Program and the Child Care Access Means Parents in School (CCAMPIS) Program, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) Garrett Lee Smith (GLS) Campus Suicide Prevention Grant. We are assessing the reach and distribution of these federal grants compared to the prevalence of basic needs insecurity among students and institutions, as well as common uses of the funds.  

This two-year study aims to provide insights to inform policymakers, funders, colleges, and researchers invested in enhancing student success. Ultimately, we hope to help ensure the sustainability, expansion, and equitable distribution of federal grants for meeting students’ basic needs as well as funding for and adoption of evidence-based practices for reducing basic needs insecurity.