Homeless College Students On The Rise, Advocates Say

If he's not in class, Christopher Sparks can usually be found in a computer from the library at Minneapolis Community and Technical College. That's because he doesn't have a home where he can peacefully study.

As The Star Tribune reports, Sparks is facing a growing challenge for college students: homelessness.

Sparks, who is majoring in computer support and network administration, told theStar Tribune:

"I hate it, but I have to survive," he said. "I wouldn't wish this situation on my worst enemy."

Statistics and assistance aimed specifically at homeless college students are scarce. Students, afraid of being stigmatized for their situation, often keep their housing situation a secret.

This stigma is only one of the many hardships homeless students have to face, according to this NPR report.

LISTEN:

Barbara Duffield, policy director of the Washington, DC-based National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, told the Star Tribune:

"In 2009, 47,204 college students applying for financial aid checked a box that identified themselves as homeless."

However, because of the survey's phrasing, Duffield believes the number to be larger. Since homeless college students don't have an appropriate studying and resting environment and lack basic school supplies, approximately 50 percent of the homeless population report dropping out of school during the course of their education, according to the National Law Center On Homelessness and Poverty.

Read more about homeless college students at the National Coalition for the Homeless and donate.

Comments

[R U Sirius]

05:22 PM on 01/06/2011

First we stick it to hard-working, aspiring, talented kids who, through no choice or fault of their own, were brought to this country by illegals...and now we're short-changing native-born young people who are working to educate themselves to make their lives and their country better. But we're slapping billions more onto the deficit by handing tax cuts to the already obscenely wealthy?

The US of A sure needs to get its priorities straight. The Visigoths are at the gates, Citizens.

[CaliTLC]

05:39 PM on 01/05/2011

It is unimaginable to me that college students are homeless through no fault of their own and our government hasn't helped them. We give the wealthy tax breaks that they don't need and ignore this population. Heartbreaking.

[whiteshoesATL]

03:22 PM on 01/05/2011

this country should be ashamed of itself...

[CaliTLC]

05:39 PM on 01/05/2011

Agreed.

[LisaCACO]

01:10 PM on 01/05/2011

when I taught college a few years ago there were several homeless students that were known. it's just really problematic. as a nation, we can't let this go on.

[littleraerae]

11:31 AM on 01/05/2011

Maybe it's just me, but college would be the LAST thing on my mind if I had no shelter. Just shows how our system thinks that absolutely EVERYONE needs to attend college.

[LisaCACO]

01:12 PM on 01/05/2011

most don't start out homeless but are in school and circumstances change, funding doesn't come thru, etc. they've paid for their schooling and don't want to lose the semester.

college shouldn't just be for the rich. how are these kids supposed to achieve their dreams if they don't go to college? it's amazing to think people could be so callous...

[CaliTLC]

05:45 PM on 01/05/2011

It is just you. These kids believe that a college education is their way OUT of their current plight. And, they are CORRECT. Who said anything about EVERYONE needing to attend college? But, those who want to attend college, as these students absolutely MUST, should not be left to fend for themselves for shelter. Unlike you, I think they are absolutely focused on the right thing - their future.

[dread locks]

09:20 AM on 01/05/2011

Its hard going to college even when you HAVE a good stable home environment, it must be really hard for them! What kind of a country is this!!!!

[dread locks]

09:18 AM on 01/05/2011

I wonder how they can afford to go to college if they dont live anywhere, how can you get a student loan without an address? I would like to know because I'm almost in the same boat.

[gwilder]

06:15 PM on 01/04/2011

Obama has signed quite a few bills into law, I'd like to see him sign a bill condeming and eradicating homelessness of every kind.

[mburris]

03:46 PM on 01/04/2011

Yes, people, you live in an emerging fascist state.

Your life is now a commodity to be traded and dispensed with.

Welcome.

[moonflowerjewelry]

03:33 PM on 01/04/2011

I am SHOCKED at the lack of thinking going on in this thread today. The title is unfortunate because it has garnered a host of comments of people that assume (since they don't actually READ beyond the headline) that young men and women are homeless because they are partying.

Inexcusable to comment if you do not read and then actually THINK about what you read before you post.

[Jim OConnor ORD]

03:14 PM on 01/04/2011

I admire education and I admire those who work hard and obtain degrees. They have made a solid investment in their own future while putting themselves in a position to more highly contribute to the greater good.

People should constantly strive to attain greater knowledge through both formal and informal means in the same way as a shark constantly feeds.

However, I am a believer in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. You can not obtain any higher need in life until you first satisfy your basic physiological needs. It would seem a homeless student is putting the cart before the horse and contributing toward their inability to maintain their basic needs.

And if financial assistance to keep these students in college is the answer, what does that say to a 23 year old woman working full time, perhaps living with roommates in a modest apartment so that she can attend night school? Are we telling her that she should keep working full time to pay taxes so that others are able to attend college full time and move ahead of her? Perhaps she should quit working full time and go to school full time so that she too can receive assistance?

I would understand having a portion of our taxes go to assisting exceptional students who are homeless, that is an investment based upon a high probability of a positive outcome.

Should a marginal student who may not even finish school, much less achieve within it, get aid as well?

[LisaViger]

04:53 PM on 01/04/2011

And just who gets to decide what "exceptional" means? Are you for real? You're complaining about someone who is without a home but still has enough self-esteem and ambition to attend college?

btw, finishing school has very little to do with innate intelligence.

[Jim OConnor ORD]

12:43 AM on 01/05/2011

I'm for real. When everybody in society is collectively investing in someone's future, someone has to decide who receives the funds and who doesn't.

As far as who gets to decide who is exceptional, there are scholarships and grants awarded every semester by publicly funded universities. Apparently someone is already entrusted to decide who is exceptional.

And I agree that innate intelligence does not carry the day in who may or may not finish school, but grades certainly reflect who is putting in the effort.

Now if you want publicly funded assistance for the homeless in general, I am on board. We should probably make an investment in all homeless people through providing temporary shelter and training programs that can get a homeless person employed and self sustaining. But it is a far leap from that to making sure they can go to college.

And as far as ambition and self esteem, while college is a challenge, it is also an investment in your own future. A person with a college degree tends to earn almost a million dollars more in their lifetime versus a high school graduate.
http://www.census.gov/prod/2002pubs/p23-210.pdf

People who finish school have something big to gain personally, they are not working on pure altruism alone.

If we took care of the homeless in general and had job training programs there would be alternatives.

Progressives want a meritocracy.

In a meritocracy, hard decisions are made on who merits taxpayer money.

[njstarrr]

12:29 PM on 01/04/2011

I'm starting the new year off with nothing but positive thoughts. I think after the last two years, we could all use a shot of positive energy. I have even pledged to lower my own snarkiness, a couple of notches. Things have been bad but they're getting better. In keeping with a new outlook, I'm no longer clicking on stories like this. I will look for articles that tackle solutions to problems, instead of just focusing on them. It's time to dig myself out of this cultural rut and let the sunshine in.

Note to HP editors: In case you haven't noticed, things have not been going well in the country. The economy and the lack jobs has caused many to struggle. Could you please make the effort to curve your penchant for using black people to depict every dire circumstance known to mankind? The national unemployment rate is 9.8%, and 16%+ for black folk, so, we're well aware of how bad circumstances are. No need to beat us over the head with it everyday. Jeeeeezz!

[njstarrr]

12:32 PM on 01/04/2011

typo alert>"curb"

[drsolo]

11:51 AM on 01/04/2011

The lack of public financial support for university students that nearly all other countries have for students may be a significant reason why all these other countries are surging ahead of us in brain power at all levels. A grade school or high school teacher that had to work 2 jobs to stay in college is not going to be as well educated as the one who was just able to focus on their course work. I am, of course, talking about support of GOOD students.

[LisaViger]

04:55 PM on 01/04/2011

"Good" students? What's your definition of "good?" The vast majority of us have average IQs (that's why they're called "average"). Everyone but the genuinely mentally challenged should be attending - and finishing - college.

[David Mini Gartner]

11:50 AM on 01/04/2011

"If he's not in class, Christopher Sparks can usually be found in a computer from the library at Minneapolis Community and Technical College."

So, is he living in a computer? Is that what you mean? If so, then he's not really homeless. If not, then you may want to hire a copy editor.

[choctawwritergirl]

11:41 AM on 01/04/2011

THAT THERE ARE TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMELESS MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN IN THIS COUNTRY, SPEAKS LOUDLY TO THE COMPLETE FAILURE OF SUPERCAPITALISM AND THE WORDS "LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS," IN OUR CONSTITUTUION.

AMERICA IS A FAILED EXPERIMENT IN REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.

[notdarkyet]

02:06 PM on 01/04/2011

We are in decline.