Both SFCC and SCC received allocations of $130,000 from the State Board of Community and Technical Colleges to assist students experiencing homelessness and students who were in the foster care system when they graduated high school.
During the 2021-2022 school year in Spokane County, the number of homeless youths, as defined by McKinney-Vento, totaled to 2,086. The 2019 national #RealCollege Survey Results for SFCC yielded 350 students' responses from 5,300 students—a 6.5% response rate. For Overall Basic Needs Insecurity, 46% of respondents had experienced food insecurity in the prior 30 days. 51% of respondents experienced housing insecurity in the previous year and 24% had experienced homelessness in the previous year. SFCC plans to work with learning support, the Workforce office, facilities, athletics, and regional partners to provide access to access to laundry facilities, storage, after-hour locker rooms and shower facilities, reduced-price meals or meal plans, after-hour access to technology, and specific housing and food insecurity case management. Chris Pelchat said, “SFCC is enthusiastic about this additional layer of support being provided by the state. We look forward to using these funds to not only provide aid directly to students, but to assist us in really understanding the scope of what is needed to support this population."
SCC also participated in the RealCollege survey. Of the 384 student respondents, 54% said that in the past year that they had experienced some level of housing insecurity. 19% of these respondents identified that in the past year, they had experienced homelessness. Approximately 150-200 students will be served during the 2022-2023 academic year at SCC. Support may include access to laundry facilities, storage, locker rooms and shower facilities, reduced-price meals or meal plans and access to food bank, access to technology, access to short-term housing or housing assistance, especially during breaks, case management, personal hygiene support/supplies, and transportation support.