Navigating Basic Needs Support: The California Community College Student Experience

ABSTRACT

This mixed‐methods study examines how students at two California Community Colleges (CCC), one urban and one rural, experience and navigate basic needs support services. Drawing on in‐depth interviews, focus groups, surveys, and ecological momentary assessments with n = 48 students, the study explores facilitators and barriers to accessing food, housing, and emergency financial resources. Findings underscore the pivotal role of direct, student‐centered programs such as food pantries, emergency grants, and CalFresh application support in fostering persistence and academic well‐being. However, persistent access barriers bureaucratic complexity, eligibility constraints, and limited outreach disproportionately affected marginalized students, particularly those who are undocumented, formerly incarcerated, or parenting. Participants emphasized the importance of culturally responsive support systems that recognize their intersectional identities. Recommendations include strengthening campus‐community partnerships, streamlining application processes, and expanding equity‐focused programming. The study highlights that addressing basic needs insecurity is essential for promoting student success and requires systemic coordination beyond the campus alone to enhance access to services, reduce barriers and stigma, and transcend campus boundaries.