For Immediate Release
August 27, 2020
Contact:
Alex Rossman
arossman@mlpp.org
CELL: 517-775-9053
College students lack basic needs amid COVID-19 pandemic
Racial disparities, access to food, housing and income have persisted for decades, made more apparent by coronavirus
LANSING—As college students return to class—whether remotely or in person—data shows that over 50 percent of college students in the United States are experiencing insecurity when it comes to basic needs like food and housing, according to a new report. Even more stark is the data broken down by race, which shows that 71 percent of Black students are experiencing these basic needs insecurities. The report released by the Michigan League for Public Policy, Studying in the Shadow of the Coronavirus, lays out the challenging landscape facing college students and presents solutions that the Michigan Legislature, state Department of Health and Human Services, and colleges and universities can adopt to help students make ends meet.
College students are facing significant hurdles due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including job loss, lack of internet access or technology, unaffordable child care for students who are parents and lack of housing—a staggering 15 percent of students at four-year colleges were experiencing homelessness in the spring of 2020.
“We need to realize that while high numbers of college students have a lack of housing, income and food as they continue studying through the COVID-19 pandemic, these are problems that have persisted for decades. As it has done with so many inequities facing people in this country, the pandemic is really putting into stark view the work we have ahead of us and the anti-racist policies we need to create if we’re going to heal as a nation,” said Gilda Z. Jacobs, President and CEO of the Michigan League for Public Policy.
The report also highlights that while the federal CARES Act signed into law in March provided aid for many college students facing hardships, many others are excluded. DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) students, international students, students in loan default, students who did not register with the selective service and more have been left out due to a rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education that excluded these students from receiving federal emergency aid grants.
Even students who are eligible for programs like SNAP (the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Unemployment Insurance and federal pandemic aid face hurdles when applying.
“A lot of college students aren’t aware that they can access supports, or they don’t have experience working with the system. That’s why one of the League’s recommendations is to create Hunger-Free Campus legislation, which, among other things, could help students navigate public assistance applications and establish campus food pantries,” Jacobs said.
Of the students facing basic needs insecurities, 36 percent of Black students and 31 percent of White students were not aware of federal emergency aid.
Other key data points from the spring 2020 #RealCollege survey of college students in 26 states in 15 universities (including Eastern Michigan University, which has a large number of students from families with low incomes and one of the highest percentages of Black students in the state) and 39 community colleges (including Grand Rapids Community College):
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52 percent of White, 65 percent of Latinx and 71 percent of Black college students were experiencing insecurity with basic needs in the spring of 2020.
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15 percent of all students surveyed were experiencing homelessness in the spring of 2020.
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17 percent of Black college students did not have sufficient internet access in the spring of 2020.
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63 percent of all college students could not concentrate on schooling during the pandemic.
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Nearly 3 in 5 of all college students were experiencing basic needs insecurity in the spring of 2020.
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Half of students were experiencing at least moderate anxiety in the spring of 2020.
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The Michigan League for Public Policy, www.mlpp.org, is a nonprofit policy institute focused on economic opportunity for all. It is the only state-level organization that addresses poverty in a comprehensive way.
Jay Cutler joined the League in March 2026 as the Kids Count Senior Data Analyst, where he collects, analyzes, and prepares data for Kids Count in Michigan.
Danielle Taylor-Basemore joined the League as the Development Data and Stewardship Coordinator in June 2025. She brings with her five years of nonprofit experience with a special focus on community engagement, data visualization and strategic programming. Prior to joining the League, Danielle served as the Business District, Safety, and Digital Manager at Jefferson East, Inc.
Scott Preston is a Senior Policy Analyst with the Michigan League for Public Policy, where he leads the organization’s immigration and criminal justice reform portfolios. In the three years prior to joining the League, Scott facilitated the Southeast Michigan Refugee Collaborative and managed a small business economic development program at Global Detroit. His work included launching Michigan’s first Refugee Film Festival and building on a trusted connector model that linked marginalized communities with crucial resources. Scott’s work at the League is informed by his background in journalism and research. He spent four years covering the Syrian refugee crisis in the Middle East for publications such as The Economist, and later worked with unaccompanied refugee minors through Samaritas. Scott holds a master’s degree in international migration and public policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Kate Powers joined the League as the Chief Development Officer in February 2025. Prior to joining the League, Kate held leadership positions at many Michigan nonprofit organizations, most recently serving as the COO and Chief Development Officer of Ele’s Place. Kate has spent the bulk of her career in fundraising, with a short stint in the state Legislature as a legislative aide to members in both chambers. Kate is a graduate of Michigan State University’s James Madison College with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Relations and has a certificate in fundraising management from the Lilly Family School of Philanthropy at Indiana University. Additionally, Kate served on the East Lansing Public Schools Board of Education and is a past President of the Junior League of Lansing. In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband and her son and saving outfit of the day and home decor ideas on Pinterest. 
Nicholas Hess joined the League as the Fiscal Policy Analyst in September of 2024. In this role, Nicholas focuses on tax policy, government revenue, and their impact on working families and racial equity, including the effects of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and Child Tax Credit (CTC). Nicholas values the role that judicious fiscal policy can play in the improvement of people’s lives and the economy, alleviating inequities along the way.
Audrey Matusz joined the League as the Visual Communications Specialist in September 2024. She supports the team with implementing social media strategies and brainstorming creative ways to talk about public policy. She brings with her nearly a decade of experience in producing digital products for evidence-based social justice initiatives. 
Jacob Kaplan 
Donald Stuckey 
Alexandra Stamm 
Amari Fuller
Mikell Frey is a communications professional with a passion for using the art of storytelling to positively impact lives. She strongly believes that positive social change can be inspired by the sharing of data-driven information coupled with the unique perspectives of people from all walks of life across Michigan, especially those who have faced extraordinary barriers. 
Yona Isaacs (she/hers) is an Early Childhood Data Analyst for the Kids Count project. After earning her Bachelor of Science in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience at the University of Michigan, she began her career as a research coordinator in pediatric psychiatry using data to understand the impacts of brain activity and genetics on children’s behavior and mental health symptoms. This work prompted an interest in exploring social determinants of health and the role of policy in promoting equitable opportunities for all children, families, and communities. She returned to the University of Michigan to complete her Masters in Social Work focused on Social Policy and Evaluation, during which she interned with the ACLU of Michigan’s policy and legislative team and assisted local nonprofit organizations in creating data and evaluation metrics. She currently serves as a coordinator for the Michigan Center for Youth Justice on a project aiming to increase placement options and enhance cultural competency within the juvenile justice system for LGBTQIA+ youth. Yona is eager to put her data skills to work at the League in support of data-driven policies that advocate for equitable access to healthcare, education, economic security, and opportunity for 0-5 year old children. In her free time, she enjoys tackling DIY house projects and trying new outdoor activities with her dog.
Rachel Richards rejoined the League in December 2020 as the Fiscal Policy Director working on state budget and tax policies. Prior to returning to the League, she served as the Director of Legislative Affairs for the Michigan Department of Treasury, the tax policy analyst and Legislative Director for the Michigan League for Public Policy, and a policy analyst and the Appropriations Coordinator for the Democratic Caucus of the Michigan House of Representatives. She brings with her over a decade of experience in policies focused on economic opportunity, including workforce issues, tax, and state budget.
Simon Marshall-Shah joined the Michigan League for Public Policy as a State Policy Fellow in August 2019. His work focuses on state policy as it relates to the budget, immigration, health care and other League policy priorities. Before joining the League, he worked in Washington, D.C. at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), providing federal policy and advocacy support to nonprofit, Medicaid health plans (Safety Net Health Plans) related to the ACA Marketplaces as well as Quality & Operations.
Renell Weathers, Michigan League for Public Policy (MLPP) Community Engagement Consultant. As community engagement consultant, Renell works with organizations throughout the state in connecting the impact of budget and tax policies to their communities. She is motivated by the belief that all children and adults deserve the opportunity to achieve their dreams regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or economic class.
Emily Jorgensen joined the Michigan League for Public Policy in July 2019. She deeply cares about the well-being of individuals and families and has a great love for Michigan. She is grateful that her position at the League enables her to combine these passions and work to help promote policies that will lead to better opportunities and security for all Michiganders.
Megan Farnsworth joined the League’s staff in December 2022 as Executive Assistant. Megan is driven by work that is personally fulfilling, and feels honored to help support the work of an organization that pushes for more robust programming and opportunities for the residents of our state. She’s excited and motivated to gain overarching knowledge of the policies and agendas that the League supports.
