NC State students struggle to find short-term housing during Thanksgiving break

With Thanksgiving a few days away, many students from Triangle-area universities will be heading home.

However, for some students, that isn’t an option. When colleges close on-campus housing, they’re left without a roof over their head.

“Our students that aren’t secure in their housing can have some feelings of shame around that, and that’s something we have to get over by having more conversations about this because it’s a fairly common one,” said Dr. Mary Haskett, who helps find short-term housing options for students in need.

Haskett is a psychology professor at North Carolina State University.

The Department of Education defines homelessness differently. It includes living in shelters, spaces that aren’t made for habitation like campgrounds and cars, and couch surfing.

At any point over the last year, about 14% or more than 5,100 NC State students reported experiencing homelessness and being unsheltered, according to data collected by Haskett, a psychology professor at the university.

“The cost of getting an education, the cost of living is increasing and the financial aid is not increasing and the minimum wage is not increasing at the same pace,” Haskett said. “So, a lot of students are getting squeezed out of housing.”

Libby Stephens works as the program director for Housing Options for Students Today [HOST]. The nonprofit pairs students with local residents for up to six months.

“I think we all have … probably know of experiences like that either have had those ourselves in our lives or have done that for someone else,” Stephens said.

Stephens says insecure housing is becoming more of an issue in the city as prices go up or houses get torn down and luxury apartments are built.

The number of students experiencing any period of homelessness reflects that. In 2017, less than 10% of NC students faced that issue. Since 2020, it has been around 14%.

The added stress can have a long-term impact, Stephens said.

“Their body and brain [are] so focused on where going to sleep next, where they going to live, how they’re going to maintain housing that they don’t have the brain energy to really focus on their schoolwork,” Stephens said.

Until there’s a solution to the housing crisis, Stephens says finding short-term solutions, creating a community and keeping students enrolled is what they’re doing.

HOST for students throughout the Raleigh area, not just NC State students. Stephens said HOST is looking for more people with homes to help out.