- The Hope Center

Attend the #RealCollege Conference!

The 5th annual #RealCollege Conference is back April 25–27, 2023 at Rutgers University–Camden. We’ll focus on building systemic and sustainable change to support students’ basic needs.

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Partnership Opportunities

Enroll in HIP!

When institutions struggle to address students’ basic needs, there are significant negative consequences on students’ lives and their ability to graduate. Schools have a tremendous opportunity to help yet aligning policies, practices, and systems can be a challenge. That’s where Hope Impact Partnerships (HIP) comes in!

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Students are humans first.

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice is redefining what it means to be a student-ready college, with a national movement centering on #RealCollege™ students’ basic needs. Reliable and consistent access to affordable food, housing, transportation, technology, familial care, and health care is a central condition for learning. Without those needs met, far too many students leave college in debt and without degrees.

We are conducting action research and fighting for the resources and supports to help #RealCollege™ students succeed.

Letter to Congress on the Repealing the Tax on Pell Grants

The Hope Center and the American Association of Community Colleges sent a letter to Congress calling for the repeal of

Best Kept Secrets Webinar: The Federal Government Expanded SNAP Eligibility for College Students, But Many Never Heard About It

This webinar explores expanded eligibility for SNAP to alleviate food insecurity on campus.

Examining the Impact of Emergency Aid at Dallas College

During the pandemic, colleges and their students sought out ways to address college affordability and secure their basic needs...

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The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice is driving the #RealCollege™ movement to assist students’ basic needs for food and housing. Donate to support #RealCollege™ students.

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Join the #RealCollege™ Movement

Sign up to receive actionable information to support #RealCollege students twice a month via our newsletter, along with important breaking news.

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Join the #RealCollege™ movement to support students’ basic needs!

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Projects

Check out our many partnerships focused on changing practice, policy, and public perceptions.

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Research and Resources

Read our research and find resources to support your work on campus and in your community.

Read our Research

“Hungry to Learn” available for free on Yahoo

After years of being ignored, students experiencing food insecurity are finally taken seriously in Soledad O’Brien’s important new documentary Hungry to Learn. It’s a critical investigation into what students need now to succeed. Everyone who cares about college, works in a college, or is committed to America’s economic recovery should view this documentary and commit to action. Given the current health and economic crisis, there’s never been a more important time.

Thanks to Yahoo, the documentary is now available to stream for free. Seize this opportunity. Show the doc to your colleagues and students. Educate policymakers, fundraise for basic needs programs, and spread the word about the realities of #RealCollege. Share what you do with us at #RealCollege and #HungryToLearn on social media.