FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2023
Contact: Emma Bittner
(972) 510-3395 | Emma.Bittner@younginvincibles.org
Young Invincibles Releases Illinois Student Basic Needs White Paper
(Chicago, IL) – Today, Young Invincibles released “Beyond Basic Needs: Exploring the Landscape of Public Benefits Navigators on College Campuses,” a white paper detailing a potential solution to students struggling with their basic needs: an on-campus Benefits Navigation Center.
The increasing cost of tuition and fees, coupled with the privatization of basic needs on college campuses, have left students in dire financial straits. Young adults should not have to choose between purchasing a textbook for class or purchasing groceries. State governments and public universities have the opportunity to alleviate some of the stress and burden of being a student in the modern world.
This white paper breaks down the current landscape of the basic needs crisis. Students have had to decide between their education and where their next meal will come from for far too long. The paper explores the status quo in other states and where legislation has been passed and implemented for similar programs. Benefit Navigation Centers with knowledgeable navigators can bridge the gap and help students succeed academically.
In response, Hannah Keller, white paper author and Midwest Policy Manager at Young Invincibles said:
“Being a student is hard. It is costly and time-consuming. Far too often, students are pulled between how they spend their time and money. It is an unfortunate reality that students are often choosing between paying tuition or paying for their basic needs.
An on-campus Benefits Navigator Center outfitted with the necessary resources and skilled professionals to help students navigate the process to get their basic needs will be life-changing for students. Without being able to meet their basic needs, students are less likely to succeed academically.
Enrolling in public aid programs can be confusing and prevents many students from being able to access the support they need. As on-campus program experts, these navigators will provide information about comprehensive mental and physical health services and assist in enrollment for various aid programs such as Medicaid and SNAP.
Several other states have passed and implemented legislation to help students meet their basic needs; it’s time for Illinois to follow through.”
In response, Margarita Arango, Illinois Youth Advisory Board member at Young Invincibles said:
“Like many 19-year-olds, I’ve never had a great understanding of health insurance. I struggled to fill out the forms to enroll for Medicaid, and I didn’t fully understand some of the questions. It seemed like they were endless. I was still in school and living on campus when I was filling out the first application; I heard there were people on campus who could help with these kinds of applications, but it’s not easy to find online, and not many students on campus know about them. I could have avoided months without coverage if I had been able to find benefits navigators on campus.”
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Young Invincibles (YI) is a national advocacy and policy nonprofit organization focused on amplifying the voice of young people in the political process at the local, state, and federal levels. YI focuses on issues impacting young adults ages 18 to 34 in higher education, health care, economic security, and civic engagement. Our offices include Washington, D.C., California, Colorado, Illinois, New York, and Texas. For more information, please contact Emma Bittner at (972) 510-3395 or emma.bittner@younginvincibles.org