College Student Basic Needs Task Force Resources

Barriers to Bridges: Strengthening Michigan Communities by Addressing College Student Basic Needs

The Office of Higher Education (OHE) in the Michigan Department of Lifelong Education, Advancement, and Potential (MiLEAP) assembled a task force of 15 members from across Michigan representing colleges and universities, state government, and advocates, and subject matter experts to explore how insecurity with basic needs is affecting Michigan's college students, how the issues differ across regions and campuses, and what interventions are helping, and ultimately to propose policy change that can support Michigan's college students so that financial insecurity is not a barrier to their pursuit of educational goals, including completion of a degree or credential and support adequate access to needs like housing, food, mental health services, internet connectivity and child care.

In May 2025, the OHE, with support from The Hope Center for Student Basic Needs, released Barriers to Bridges: Strengthening Michigan Communities by Addressing College Student Basic Need, a report spotlighting 12 priority recommendations that would help the state, institutions of higher education and highly engaged partners to collectively create sustainable solutions to address college student basic needs insecurity and improve the experiences of students faced with these barriers.

These recommendations are undergirded by research into successful work in Michigan and around the country and are broken down in four key themes:

Enhance Access to Existing Resources
Bolstering Existing Resources
Establish New Resources
Strengthen Impact through Improved Data

Read the full report

Download the priority recommendations

Basic Needs by the Numbers

Among college students in Michigan today: 36% are first-generation students, 30% are adult learners, 38% receive Pell Grants (federal scholarships for low-income students), and 15% have dependent children¹.

20%

of undergraduates experienced low or very low food security

7%

of students were homeless in the previous 30 days

44%

of students experienced housing insecurity in the past 12 months

52%

of students screened positive for anxiety or depression

1. National Center for Education Statistics. National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS). U.S. Department of Education, nces.ed.gov/surveys/npsas/

Digital Resources

Basic Needs Task Force Report

Priority Recommendations

Digital Toolkit

Statewide Resources

MiBridges

Apply for benefits such as housing, WIC, food, child care, and healthcare.
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Connects callers to health and human service agencies and organizations in your community.
Child Care Scholarship

Get help finding and paying for child care. The eligibility calculator helps you know if you’re eligible in less than 2 minutes.
Food Assistance

Learn about food assistance in Michigan, and how to apply with MI Bridges.
Utilities

Learn about assistance for eligible consumers to pay utility bills.
Housing Assistance

Find out more about rental assistance programs, locating rental housing and homeless assistance.
Legal Assistance

Michigan Legal Help has tools and information to help you understand and manage your legal problems.
Tax Assistance

Your local free tax preparation providers can help you claim every dollar available at no cost to you, ever.
Transportation Resources

Learn about resources for transportation and find public transit near you.