Basic Needs Resources

Basic Needs Resources

For Highline Students

Research makes clear that food and housing insecurity are pervasive issues affecting our local community. Highline College is committed to supporting the basic needs of our students and recognizes the disproportionate negative impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a remote environment, where students are physically located away from campus, Highline is committed to providing assistance to students experiencing basic needs insecurity wherever they are. This commitment is grounded in the value of supporting the success of all Highline students. Access to these resources will remain in place, dependent upon local campus resource availability, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and primarily through remote/virtual instruction.

If you are experiencing homelessness, food insecurity, financial hardship or are in need of other basic needs support, please utilize the resources below.

Links to resources

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Food

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Housing

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Healthcare Links to an external site.

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Paying for College

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Mental Health

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Financial Assistance

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Childcare Links to an external site.

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Domestic Violence & Safety

Additional Resources:

Food:

Housing:

Healthcare:

COVID-19 Resources:

Highline Access Services:

Paying for College:

Career and Job Opportunities:

Legal Resources:

The Benefits Hub

The United Way Benefits Hub at Highline College is here to help with everyday services and financial tools to keep you in school.

Benefits Hub Services Include:

  • Help paying for groceries
  • Utility bill assistance
  • photo of United Way Benefits Hub LogoAccess to food
  • Paying for the bus
  • Mental Health & Wellness Referrals
  • Free tax preparation
  • Financial coaching
  • Financial aid application assistance
  • Emergency financial grants
  • Housing supports
  • Legal Counsel Referrals
  • Signing up for Apple Health
  • Assistance with past due rent or moving costs

Visit https://supportcenter.highline.edu/benefits-hub/ for details on how to schedule with a one-on-one appointment or drop in the Zoom Lobbies.

Community Resources

The Highline College campus works in partnership with several community organizations to help meet students' basic needs. As such, and recognizing that not all students are currently located close to the Highline campus and may be located closer to community-based organizations that provide basic needs support, students are encouraged to visit Support Center Website. https://supportcenter.highline.edu/community-partners/.

Dial 211

By simply dialing 211, you can be referred, and sometimes connected, to appropriate agencies and community organizations.

211 works a bit like 911. Calls to 211 are routed by the local telephone company to a local or regional calling center. The 211 center’s referral specialists receive requests from callers, access databases of resources available from private and public health and human service agencies, match the callers’ needs to available resources, and link or refer them directly to an agency or organization that can help.

Types of Referrals Offered by 211

  • Basic Human Needs Resources– including food and clothing banks, shelters, rent assistance, and utility assistance.
  • Physical and Mental Health Resources– including health insurance programs, Medicaid and Medicare, maternal health resources, health insurance programs for children, medical information lines, crisis intervention services, support groups, counseling, and drug and alcohol intervention and rehabilitation.
  • Work Support– including financial assistance, job training, transportation assistance and education programs.
  • Access to Services in Non-English Languages- including language translation and interpretation services to help non-English-speaking people find public resources (Foreign language services vary by location.)
  • Support for Older Americans and Persons with Disabilities– including adult day care, community meals, respite care, home health care, transportation and homemaker services.
  • Children, Youth and Family Support– including child care, after-school programs, educational programs for low-income families, family resource centers, summer camps and recreation programs, mentoring, tutoring and protective services.
  • Suicide Prevention– referral to suicide prevention help organizations. Callers can also dial the following National Suicide Prevention Hotline numbers which are operated by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:
    • 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255)
    • 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433)
    • 1-888-SUICIDE (1-888-784-2433)
    • 1-877-SUICIDA (1-877-784-2432) (Spanish)

FindHelp.org Links to an external site.

Students can also find support in the local community through going to FindHelp.org Links to an external site..This free website is a reliable, holistic, and user-friendly system designed to help individuals get connections to food, housing, transportation, and other resources.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have any of the questions below? If so, visit https://supportcenter.highline.edu/faq

  • What resources are offered at the Highline Support Center?
  • What is Admissions?
  • How can I attend the new student orientation?
  • How do I set up myHighline student account?
  • I forgot my Highline ID/password, how can I find it?
  • photo of a question mark inside of a speech bubbleHow do I register for classes?
  • What is an entry code?
  • Why do I need an entry code?
  • How do I get an entry code?
  • How can I check my student e-mail on my personal devices such as phone, iPad, or laptop?
  • What is placement and do I need it?
  • What is MyMathTest?
  • How can I find instructors’ office hours?
  • What is I-BEST program?
  • What is Jumpstart program?
  • What is WASFA?
  • How can I apply for FAFSA?
  • Can I use printer or copy machine on campus?
  • What is the Financial Aid portal?
  • How can I get a work-study job?
  • How can I apply the Financial Aid?
  • What is Women’s Programs?

And if you have questions about ctcLink, including what it is and how to access it, please visit this link: https://www.highline.edu/ctclink/students

Direct Highline Contacts

Highline College Support Center:

Highline College Counseling Center:

Key Terms

Basic Needs

The fundamental, minimum requirements necessary for a decent standard of life and physical, mental, and social well-being. In the context of this report, we refer primarily to food and housing, but basic needs may also include issues such as safety and security, sanitation, access to clean water, and clothing.

Food Insecurity

The state of being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable, nutritious food. ‘Anxiety over food access’ is considered marginal food insecurity whileoutright ‘hunger’ and ‘not eating for an entire day due to lack of resources for food’ is a more extreme manifestation. “Low” and “very low”food security levels are defined as “food insecurity” by the USDA, and “marginal” and “high” food security levels are not typically considered “food insecurity”. The word ‘hunger’ is sometimes used colloquially to describe food insecurity.

Housing Insecurity

Variably defined as having difficulty paying rent, having frequent moves, living in overcrowded conditions, or doubling up with friends and relatives.In the college context, instability may take the form of frequent moving of residence due to lack of resources or eviction, or temporary or chronic couch surfing. Homelessness refers tolack of a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, characterized by living in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to lack of alternative adequate accommodations or living in a car or other location not designed for being a residence.