Middlesex Community College: MCC Finds Ways To Address Student Housing And Food Insecurity

Press release from the Middlesex Community College:

Caitlin Buckley

11/18/2021

Middlesex Community College Computer Science student Austin Hamilton understands what it feels like to suffer from housing insecurity. Growing up in Modesto, Calif., he started helping his single mother pay rent when he turned 18. When his aunt and uncle offered him an opportunity to move to Massachusetts to live with them and go to school at Middlesex, he took it.

Hamilton dove into campus life at Middlesex, starting work at the Bedford Fitness Center and becoming president of the school club, the Gamers Guild. In this role, he led a 24-hour gaming fundraiser to raise over $2,000 for Boston Children’s Hospital.

After completing three semesters at MCC, Hamilton’s aunt received a job offer in Florida and moved there with her husband. At the end of the Fall 2019 semester, Hamilton lost his stable housing situation and was uncertain of his future at the college.

“That sort of left me out in the open not really knowing what I was going to do and unsure if I could support a full-time job while going to school,” he said. “I definitely had a preference to graduate from Middlesex, specifically because I really like the school. I like the community, the professors and the small class sizes, but I also wanted to finish what I started here.”

Hamilton was directed to Jonathan Crockett, MCC’s Coordinator of Essential Needs and Community Resources, who informed him of the Mass. Department of Higher Education’s Housing Pilot Program. In partnership with the University of Massachusetts Lowell, Middlesex is one of the participating community colleges and universities across the Commonwealth who are able to provide dorm housing and meal plans to students ages 18 to 24.

“A student who is dealing with housing insecurity or homelessness can effectively have a full year-round placement,” Crockett said. “As long as they maintain their enrollment status at the college or university and remain in good academic standing.”

Deemed a fit for the program, Hamilton worked with Crockett to apply and schedule an interview with Nicholas DiGiammo, Leading Housing Case Manager for Youth Service at Community Teamwork in Lowell. As part of his role, DiGiammo manages placement for the DHE Housing Pilot Program for MCC and UMass Lowell.

“We’re helping to identify folks who are college eligible, are hardworking, and that have their own skills that they bring to the table, but it’s very difficult for students who don’t have a roof over their heads to be worried about their grades or attending a class,” DiGiammo said. “It’s really interesting to see that dynamic once given the opportunity to see what these students can do when given the opportunity.”

Once he was accepted into the program, Hamilton was guaranteed a physical space with a bed and food at UMass Lowell. When the pandemic struck during the Spring 2020 semester, he was able to maintain his housing situation and continue taking classes at Middlesex. Hamilton encourages students to feel comfortable reaching out to someone about their situation.

“There’s no reason to be embarrassed or feel like you can’t talk about housing insecurity,” he said. “What you should be doing is talking about it and trying to get help, because help isn’t bad.”

Led by Crockett, Middlesex is seeking to provide help to all of the college’s students who need it. In addition to homelessness and housing insecurity, one major challenge facing students is access to food.

“We know by nature that our students are struggling quite often when they come to Middlesex,” Crockett said. “When people are struggling financially in particular, it’s often that food and housing take the first hit. We’re increasingly talking about the equity agenda, accessibility, affordability, reducing barriers and appealing to students. The food pantries are one way we can provide this assistance to our students.”

Pre-pandemic, MCC’s two food pantries – one on each of the Bedford and Lowell campuses – were run by volunteers and open to the college community during certain hours. When the pandemic arrived, Crockett opened them on an as-needed basis where MCC community members could call public safety for access and go in and get their grocery needs when they wanted. As far as eligibility requirements, all they need to do is sign in with a QR code at the door.

With both campus pantries featuring freezers and refrigerators, Middlesex is able to provide students with fresh and non-perishable items in addition to canned and boxed food. Most of the donations are provided for free by the Merrimack Valley Food Bank. The college relies on donations and funding to also keep personal care items in stock, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, feminine hygiene products and shaving supplies.

Through funding from the Middlesex Community College Foundation, Crockett and the food pantries are also able to provide students with gift cards to grocery stores. Being able to distribute gift cards provides a “different level of dignity” for those accessing the pantries, according to Crockett. Shopping for their own food allows people to purchase items based on individual preferences, needs and terms.

During the 2020-2021 academic year, the MCC Foundation donated $10,000 to the pantries. The college received $20,000 in grant funding as part of the Community Development Block Grant (CDB) to expand food offerings, including pre-packaged meals in a large chest freezer. The Greater Lowell Community Foundation also gifted the pantries with a generous donation.

Although he once thought of food pantries as a symbolic gesture to address the challenges students and employees face, it did not take long for Crockett to realize there was much more value and relevance to providing access to food and other resources.

“I’ve heard testimonials or talked to students describing sitting in class and hearing their stomach gurgling, loud enough so other students around them can hear it,” he said. “For students to try and meet their academic goals, show up to class focused on what they’re trying to do and feeling hungry, that’s a really uncomfortable situation to be in.”

Crockett emphasizes that the food pantries are open to the entire Middlesex community, including students and employees. For those who are looking to be “financially savvy,” they can get their food from the pantry for the week and put the money they would have spent on groceries toward other payments in their life, including utility bills and rent.

In order to address other student needs, Crockett works closely with Community Teamwork, Inc. to provide access to wrap-around services and resources, including short- and long-term housing, food, personal care items, networking and mental health.

He has also helped students who are searching for a new apartment with the processes that go along with it, including engaging in difficult conversations with families, asking landlords questions, finding roommates, and budgeting for monthly and first and last month payments.

For students who may struggle to afford the cost of textbooks, Crockett is able to help them get funding from the MCC Foundation’s emergency funds or put them in touch with MCC’s Office of Financial Aid.

To raise awareness about the food pantries and other services, Crockett has made about 20 classroom visits to students in their First Year Experience (FYE) classes throughout the Fall 2021 semester. He also is referred to students by faculty and staff members across the college who have a connection with that student.

The work Crockett does – and the resources the food pantries provide – are making a positive impact on the lives of students like Hamilton. Being able to meet a student’s basic needs such as food and housing often means the difference in a student’s ability to focus on their education, graduate and reach their goals.

“We have students and employees with a real need to have access to the food to get through the week,” Crockett said. “Students who access the food pantries or reach out to me for information about it, a lot of times those connections lead into conversations about other basic needs, support or resources. I’m happy to help as best I can.”

MCC’s food pantries are open seven days a week for 12 hours a day. For more information, visit https://www.middlesex.mass.edu/wellnessandessentialneeds/foodandhousing/ or email foodpantry@middlesex.mass.edu or crockettj@middlesex.mass.edu.

Discover your path at Middlesex Community College. As one of the largest, most comprehensive community colleges in Massachusetts, MCC has been a proven leader in education for more than 50 years. Middlesex puts the student first. Meeting each learner where they are, MCC provides them with a safe, welcoming and engaging place to learn. Offering more than 80 degree and certificate programs – plus hundreds of noncredit courses – Middlesex features flexible course formats and a variety of award-winning student support services and resources. Student success starts at MCC!

This press release was produced by the Middlesex Community College. The views expressed here are the author’s own.