Experiences of Homelessness among Students at a Rural University

Little is known about the extent of experiences of homelessness among US college students. However, virtually every school knows of homeless students (Berg-Cross & Green, 2010). Because of the stigma homelessness carries, students may try to conceal their homelessness from others, creatively making arrangements for sleeping and carrying out activities of daily living such as showering.

In the current study, 1,628 current students at Utah State University were asked about their current housing status and experiences of homelessness in the past year using a survey instrument similar to that used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development during their annual census of homeless individuals. In the last 12 months, 20% (N = 330) of students reported spending one or more nights in a situation that the Department of Housing and Urban Development recognizes as homeless (hotel, car or outdoors because they had nowhere else to stay, in an abandoned building or residence without utilities, in a homeless shelter, or in a domestic violence shelter). In terms of current homelessness, fifteen students (0.9%) indicated that they had slept in a homeless situation the previous night. An additional 26 students (1.6%) would lose their housing in the next 14 days, and only 14 (57%) of these indicated that they had a new place to move in to. Male students were significantly more likely than female students to report experiencing homelessness in the past year χ² (1) = 35.185, p < 0.001, and LGBTQ status was not a significant predictor of experience of homelessness. Housing instability and homelessness were found to be common issues facing this population, suggesting the need for services to support students so that they can continue their education and avoid long-term homelessness.