July 19, 2024

Today, the Hope Center at Temple University led 49 organizations calling on Congress to preserve and expand funding for the Basic Needs for Postsecondary Students Program (“Basic Needs Grant”) in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations process. Specifically, the coalition urges the House and Senate Appropriations committees to reject proposed cuts to this vital grant program, and expand funding to $45 million, equal to several other Department of Education grant programs, in the final agreement.

First funded in FY 2021, the Basic Needs Grant is vital to addressing the nationwide crisis of basic needs insecurity, and has helped colleges and universities build and expand holistic, comprehensive supports that address food and housing insecurity, mental and physical healthcare challenges, transportation, technology, child care, and other costs that often derail students from completing their degree. Cutting the program, as the House bill proposes, would exacerbate this crisis and prevent institutions across the country from expanding, replicating, and scaling badly needed interventions to reach more students in need. We urge Congress to reverse these proposed cuts and increase these investments in student wellbeing and success.