Sacrificing basic needs to achieve the “American Dream”: examining the role of postsecondary students’ citizenship status in experiencing basic needs insecurity

Basic needs insecurity refers to the inability to consistently access necessities such as food and housing, and existing literature identifies this issue as a significant barrier to students’ academic success and well-being. This three-article dissertation examines the issue of basic needs insecurity among postsecondary students, with a special focus on their citizenship/residency status. The first study draws on qualitative data from interviews with students who use a campus food pantry and reveals the immediate impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on these students, their initial coping strategies to endure the effects of the pandemic, and the importance of campus food pantries in addressing basic needs insecurity. The second and third studies use the #RealCollege Survey dataset to examine the prevalence of basic needs insecurity among students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents (NCPR), the potential barriers to basic needs security, and students’ help-seeking behaviors. In addition to confirming the high risk of experiencing basic needs insecurity among NCPR students, these studies suggest that addressing the barriers to students' basic needs security and their help-seeking behaviors requires considering multiple intersecting identities, including citizenship/residency status. I conclude by offering recommendations for future research, policy, and practice to adequately address basic needs insecurity and create more equitable and inclusive higher education environments.