August 2023

Addressing basic needs insecurity through campus-based hubs that connect students to supports is an increasingly prevalent institutional strategy. This study evaluates campus-based "benefits hubs" at two community colleges - Green River and Highline - in King County, Washington. Researchers evaluated whether low-cost outreach increased student use of benefits hubs increased and whether that outreach improved students' academic outcomes. While the results are mixed and largely inconclusive, this important study explores some of the reasons why hubs usage may be underutilized and highlights the need for additional research into efficacy of benefits hubs as well as the importance of institutional practitioners to engage in ongoing assessment to develop strategies for strengthening utilization and ensuring maximum equitable impact.