Survey: Two out of three SDCCD students struggle with food and/or housing insecurity

The survey of San Diego students was part of the 2025 Real College Survey, which received responses from 77,000 students from 102 community colleges in California. Conducted between March 3 and April 10, more than 3,700 students from the four SDCCD colleges participated.
 
The survey found that 46% of California community college students were food insecure, meaning they were uncertain whether they would be able to acquire nutritional food. Fifty-eight percent said they were housing insecure, meaning they could not afford to pay rent or had to move frequently. About 20% said they experienced homelessness.
 
The findings for the SDCCD’s colleges – San Diego City College, San Diego Mesa College, San Diego Miramar College, and San Diego College of Continuing Education – were similar to the statewide study. Like the statewide survey, 67 percent of San Diego’s students said they were struggling with food and/or housing. The survey showed 44% of San Diego’s students were food insecure, 59% had suffered from housing insecurity, and 23% identified as homeless.
 
“It’s essential for our students to have their basic needs for food and housing met so they can be successful in the classroom and in life,” said Susan Topham, SDCCD Vice Chancellor of Educational Services. “Without this foundation, our college students face challenges that can impede their academic progress.”
 
Each of the colleges in the district offer resources for students who are struggling with food or housing insecurity. The colleges all have food pantries and maintain lists of local resources to support students in need of shelter or a meal. They also offer transit passes, gas cards, clothing, and emergency grants.
 
At City College, the Knights’ Table Food Pantry offers meals, snacks, hygiene products, and diapers. Knights’ Threads & Things provides clothing and household items for students. Fresh Cutz Barbershop offers free haircuts and embedded mental health support services for students who utilize the barbershop. Construction is underway for an affordable student housing apartment complex that would host 800 beds well below market rental rates and is expected to open in fall 2028. 
 
At Mesa College, The Stand: The Dr. Pamela T. Luster Resource Center provides an emergency food pantry, clothing, basic needs counseling, student support, and food distributions twice a month. The college offers $50-$500 grants and loans from its Resiliency Fund for students who experience an emergency, and service cards are available for food, transportation, and toiletries. 
 
At Miramar College, the Jet Fuel Resource Center provides a clothing closet, basic toiletries, and nutritious food options through a robust food pantry and bi-monthly free farmers markets. The free food items are sourced through partnerships with Farmer’s Fridge, the San Diego Food Bank, Feeding San Diego and a Retail Rescue program. 
 
College of Continuing Education offers the CARES program, an acronym standing for its Commitment to Accessible Resources for Educational Support. The program provides support to students with free clothing, personal hygiene items, food and transportation gift cards, and referrals to support services.