There's an undeniable relation between homelessness and food insecurity, and students are no exception to this struggle. "College is stressful enough," writes a HIGH scholarship recipient Colleen Messimer "without having to worry about money for food,housing, and transportation." According to Feeding America's 2014 study, 31% of the households they serve have to choose between paying for food or their education . At the HIGH Program, we provide funding to homeless or precariously-housed Wayne State students so that they're no longer forced to choose between the two, but it also goes beyond that -- part of the assistance that we provide is access to food through campus meal plans.  As Hunger Action Month comes to a close, both Wayne State students and local community members might wonder how they might be able to help, but not know where to begin. Luckily, there are quite a few ways that anyone can help support the HIGH Program as well as help to fig...

Even though we're constantly progressing as a society, there's still a lingering stigma against the homeless, and the challenges that arise as a result often makes it difficult for those individuals to put themselves in better situations. Over the weekend, a story broke about Washington D.C. student Jamal Speaks, who was barred from playing on his high school football team because he was homeless. According to NBC Washington , officials said that Speaks became ineligible to play -- or even practice with his team in the meantime -- because they couldn't verify a permanent address to confirm residency. For many low-income and homeless youths, a scholarship of some sort is their only shot at receiving a college education; among those are sports scholarships, which often provide a full ride for promising young athletes. Adding insult to injury, recruiters from Temple University had come to watch Speaks play when he was pulled from the game to be sidelined because of his resid...

In the next couple of weeks, flu season will be upon us once again. After a particularly nasty flu season in 2017, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that individuals get vaccinated at least two weeks before the flu season begins. But often times when individuals or families are struggling with low income, precarious housing, or homelessness, they're forced to have healthcare take the backseat until their situation becomes more stable. Lack of health insurance or difficulty accessing healthcare are widespread issues and can result in poor attendance at school or work, as well as more serious health complications. However, there are a few ways that those struggling to attain healthcare can still get their flu shot and ward off problems before they begin. For Wayne State students, the Campus Health Center  offers no-cost flu vaccinations. Students are never charged, regardless of health insurance coverage. For non-students with health insurance, finding a free ...

Close your eyes for a moment, and try to picture someone who is homeless. What comes to mind? Many people have a specific image of what homelessness --which is defined by the federal government as "an individual without permanent housing who may live on the streets...or any other unstable or non-permanent situation"  --  might look like as a result of stereotypical representation in the media. The truth is, those struggling with homelessness or precarious housing situations come from all walks of life, and not among the least of those numbers are students. A study from The University of the Pacific found that students who are homeless or have an uncertain living situations tend to have lower grade point averages, have problems with truancy, and are less likely to graduate on time. In Michigan, programs such as the ones in Holland Public Schools have been forming across the state to aid in helping homeless K-12 students with the resources that they need to be s...

A s the school year starts to pick up and we start to fill our fridges with foods for school lunches, let's talk about an often overlooked struggle -- food insecurity. According to Feeding America, 1 in 7 people in Michigan struggles with food insecurity. When it comes to students, many are forced to choose between food and paying their tuition. At the HIGH Program, financial assistance is one of the many forms of help that we provide to recipients so that no student is faced with the decision to finance basic necessities (such as food) or pay for school. How can you help? The HIGH Program provides this assistance with the help of generous donations, which comes from all sorts of sources. With the Kroger Community Awards program, donations are as easy as doing your usual shopping (with no extra cost to you)! To enroll, simply visit the Kroger Community Rewards page, sign in with your Kroger Plus account (or sign up for free), and search for "HIGH Program" or ...