PDX Area Colleges Helping House Students Who Can't Afford It

PORTLAND, OR — "For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a chance, and I’m at home. I feel safe. This program literally saved my life."

That's Amr Mostafa, a film student at Portland State University, talking about the school's Affordable Rents for College Students program.

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Portland State worked with Portland Community College, Mt. Hood Community College, and the nonprofits College Housing Northwest and New Avenues for Youth in creating the program, which is also known ARCS.

Mostafa is just one of many students who have had trouble finding enough money to find shelter, and even buy groceries or keep the heat on.

A survey taken at the height of the pandemic last year found that 52 percent of students at the state's 17 community colleges considered themselves to be "housing insecure."

The program currently has 18 students enrolled, two-thirds of whom are the first in their families to attend college. About half said that they would not be in college if they didn't have the program's help.

Portland State says that the program is expanding in large because of a $280,000 in state money they recently received thanks to the help of State Senator Chris Gorsek.

"This is just a start to what I hope will be a much longer effort to create long-term and affordable housing for our students," Gorsek said.