I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to you. The generous support of our SDSU community makes a signifcant impact on our ability to provide essential resources to students facing basic needs insecurities and crises.
This year, the Basic Needs Center was able to launch new programs to ensure students had access to nutritious food and transportation, both of which are critical for them to continue pursuing their academic goals.
Our Center continues to ofer a wide range of services, including fnancial education, CalFresh, and Medi-Cal enrollment support, resource fairs, cooking classes, and one-on-one assistance for students navigating fnancial crises.
The support we receive directly impacts our students' ability to meet their most basic needs. It ensures they remain safe, stably housed, and well-nourished, allowing them to focus on their studies even during times of crisis. Your support plays a crucial role in empowering them to achieve their full potential.
Evie Baez, MSW Director Basic Needs Center Division of Student Afairs and Campus Diversity
Changing Lives through Program Support
Hervey Family Foundation
A grant from the Hervey Family Foundation allowed the Basic Needs Center to successfully pilot our new Supplemental Grocery Assistance Program (SGAP), which provides students with funds to reduce food insecurity.
The program disburses a one-time grant for students who are unable to utilize CalFresh benefts to use toward their food needs across the semester. The Basic Needs Center was able to support 87 students in Fall 2023 and Spring 2024, reducing food insecurity at San Diego State while connecting students to other valuable resources, including fnancial literacy, through the SDSU Cal Coast Student Financial Center.
Aztec Parents Fund
Through the Aztec Parents Fund, the Basic Needs Center greatly expanded its Basic Needs Kit program, which provides students with free access to hygiene supplies, menstrual products, school supplies, diapers, and more.
Once per month, students can request a personalized kit with no questions asked via a Google Form, and they may choose from various items to lower their monthly expenses. Basic Needs Kits provide short-term support while we work to connect students to long-term solutions, including self-sufciency resources such as CalFresh, Medi-Cal, and CalWORKs, along with fnancial education, fnancial aid, scholarships, employment, and more.
With the support of the Aztec Parents Fund, the Basic Needs Center expanded the program and provided 2,693 Basic Needs Kits to students this academic year. We intend to continue expanding the program to support additional students.
Living the Aztec Experience
Jennifer Nolasco Cantu, Class of 2024
Class Level: Undergraduate Student
College: College of Health and Human Services
Major: Social Work
As an undocumented student, there were several barriers I had to overcome during my college experience, and many were fnancially related, which made it difcult to prioritize my education.
When I frst heard of the Economic Crisis Response Team at the Basic Needs Center as a freshman, I was relieved to know there was a community designated to help me navigate certain challenges. I hoped they could connect me to other resources, but the support they provided was unlike any other resource center on campus.
As a frst-generation student, I struggled with imposter syndrome due to not feeling seen, but with the support of the Basic Needs Center, I was able to surpass those feelings and blossom into the individual I am today. They helped me in several aspects, such as fnancial education and mental health support.
The Supplemental Grocery Assistance Grant relieved the food insecurity I was facing and the Basic Needs Kits I was able to receive every month relieved some fnancial burden and allowed me to secure housing. Without their help, which greatly relieved stress and anxiety, I would not have been able to fnish my bachelor’s degree in social work.
I was relieved to know there was a community designated to help me navigate certain challenges.
Vy Quach, Class of 2025
Class
Level: Undergraduate Student College: College of Engineering
Major:
Civil Engineering
During my second year at SDSU, my mom passed away, and my life was turned upside down.
With only my part-time income, I felt lost, unsure how to make ends meet for the rest of the semester. Thankfully, I was referred to ECRT with a quick application, and after talking to an advisor, I was able to receive fnancial support to help with my bills.
The ECRT staf were extremely helpful and understanding of my situation and guided me to the necessary resources I needed to continue at SDSU.
With their support, I began to regain my footing and could focus on my studies without worrying about immediate fnancial problems.
“
The ECRT staf were extremely helpful and understanding of my situation, and guided me towards the necessary resources that I needed...
Celebrating Shared Success
Statistics of Interest
The most exciting opportunity for the Basic Needs Center is to collect and share data on the impact our resources have on students' monthly expenses and overall fnancial wellness, that otherwise would prevent them from pursuing their academic endeavors. The Basic Needs Center currently ofers low-barrier access to free hygiene, menstrual, parenting, and school supplies. By including a survey and evaluating the data, we hope to institutionalize this ofering and advocate for its development at other CSU basic needs centers.
The Economic Crisis Response Team received 1,860 requests from students seeking support for their basic needs or a fnancial crisis during fall 2023—spring 2024.
For Fall 2023 - Spring 2024, the Basic Needs Center provided:
$42,600 in food support
$68,733.80 in transportation support
5,506 individual check-ins at our front desk
1,595 individual check-ins for snack bags
2,693 individualized kits of basic needs items
Recent Highlights
First full year of operations for the SDSU Basic Needs Center. Through our various programs and resources this year, we touched thousands of students and better connected our campus community to basic needs resources.
Expanded CalFresh eligibility on our campus. This was attributed to a recent change in CalFresh requirements in the state to allow for certain majors, minors, and certifcate programs that have employability and training components to be registered as a local program that increases employability. This change allowed for Basic Needs Center staf to qualify for 241 individual programs on our campus, the most in the CSU system, allowing for over 9,200 students to potentially qualify for CalFresh benefts.
Due to our successes with CalFresh, the Basic Needs Center was also able to present at the 2024 California Higher Education Basic Needs Alliance Conference on how we work collaboratively with the County of San Diego and Home Start, a local nonproft, to promote CalFresh and enroll students in-house.
Basic Needs Center provided over $100k in food and transportation support.
SDSU has also been highlighted through the Chancellor’s Ofce on how to model basic needs structures within fnancial aid, as our campus partnership has allowed our ofces to better serve students in an efcient and efective manner.
Expanded our Basic Needs Kits program, in which students can request individualized kits of basic needs items, including hygiene products, menstrual supplies, school supplies, diapers, and more. Collected and shared data on the impact our resources have on students' monthly expenses and overall fnancial wellness, which otherwise would prevent them from pursuing their academic endeavors. The Basic Needs Center currently ofers low-barrier access to free hygiene, menstrual, parenting, and school supplies. By including a survey and evaluating the data, we hope to institutionalize this ofering and advocate for its development at other CSU basic needs centers.
Helping to Build a Brighter Future
Kashmone'
Hamilton
Alberts, MPH, CHES, CHWC
Title: Basic Needs Lead Programs Coordinator College: Student Afairs and Campus Diversity
Achievement: Fall 2023 Leadership Prep Academy
I have worked at SDSU for almost ten years and have had the privilege of working in the Basic Needs Center for the last two years. I love what I do in a college setting because I am passionate about helping future generations grow and thrive. My position has given me many opportunities to provide case management and individualized support to students, helping them navigate challenging situations.
My colleague would say that I make students feel safe and seen by listening to their situations and doing what I can to help them connect to the right resources or come up with solutions so they can move through and fnd a solution that works for them.
I joined the Basic Needs Center team at the beginning of this year, and it has been the best decision of my career at SDSU.
I provide support for all students who come into our center requesting assistance. I work closely with our student assistants at the front desk, in our resource room and with any additional projects our team may need support with. I look forward to diving deeper into all the resources and support our team members provide for our diverse student population.
As an SDSU alumni, I am proud to be part of such an amazing team that gives their all to ensure our students are able to reach their academic goals.
