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July 12, 2023
PCC Earns Grant for Basic Needs Services
U.S. Department
of Ed funding
will allow the
college to focus
on student
mental health,
housing support
Oregon college students face
high levels of basic needs inse-
curity. Many students struggle
to afford food and housing, utili-
ties, transportation and childcare
while pursuing their education
and working towards careers that
will pay them a living wage. The
wrap-around services provided by
community colleges, and the abil-
ity to connect students to services,
are critical to meeting those needs.
As a result, Portland Commu-
nity College has been awarded
an $867,839 grant from the U.S.
Department of Education’s Basic
Needs for Postsecondary Stu-
dents Program. This grant will
span the next three years, begin-
ning on Sept. 1. It will focus on
Student Tin Lee takes advantage of a PCC Foundation free laptop donation.
student mental health, housing
support, increased promotion of
basic needs resources, and trau-
ma-informed care training for
PCC staff and faculty.
“These grant funds could not
have come sooner for our stu-
dents and will improve awareness
and access to basic needs support
at the college, with the intention-
al focus on mental health and
housing,” said Lauren Smith,
executive dean of PCC’s Student
Belonging & Wellbeing. “The
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trauma-informed care training
for staff and faculty will be the
perfect complement to this addi-
tional support, and will include
an emphasis on holistic wellbeing
and enhancements to the way we
identify, refer, and serve students
who may be experiencing basic
needs insecurity in any area.”
PCC’s project will be used
to address both the housing and
mental health needs of students.
A housing navigator will be hired
to assess the need, coordinate the
college’s response to the hous-
ing crisis, liaise with communi-
ty-based organizations and hous-
ing providers, and help connect
students with resources available
in the community.
Funding will also be used to
hire a mental health provider,
who will oversee evaluations
for students in need of a formal
diagnosis in order to qualify for
services with external providers.
This will fill a large gap in PCC’s
counseling services while also al-
leviating the caseload of existing
counselors by referring students
who are in need of more com-
plex mental healthcare than the
college can provide. Finally, the
grant will allow for the training
of PCC employees about trau-
ma-informed approaches to iden-
tify and support students with ba-
sic needs insecurity.
Continued on Page 8