By By Hope Sardella
College is often sold as a ladder out of poverty—but what happens when the ladder is missing its first rung? For thousands of students across the country, the biggest obstacle to earning a degree isn’t academics, tuition, or even childcare. It’s something far more basic: a safe, stable place to live.
I learned this firsthand when I tried to help a friend who was on the verge of losing her housing while trying to stay in school. She was working gig jobs, Ubering to survive, juggling her children, and doing everything she could to hold her life together. But without stable housing, every other part of her life was collapsing. And like so many students in crisis, she didn’t know where to turn.
That’s when I discovered something that changed everything:
Rogers State University offers housing support for students experiencing homelessness.
Not only that—they offer adult housing, meaning you don’t have to be a fresh-out-of-high-school “traditional” student to qualify. They also offer family housing, which is incredibly rare in higher education. Many colleges don’t even consider the needs of students with children, let alone provide them with a safe place to live.
This isn’t just a nice perk. It’s life-saving.
Why Housing Is the Foundation of Academic Success
You can’t study for exams when you’re sleeping in your car.
You can’t attend class consistently when you’re couch-hopping.
You can’t focus on your future when you’re fighting for survival in the present.
Stable housing isn’t optional—it’s the foundation that makes education possible.
Research consistently shows that students experiencing homelessness or housing instability are far more likely to:
– Drop out
– Miss classes
– Struggle academically
– Experience mental and physical health challenges
– Lose financial aid due to inconsistent enrollment
And yet, despite this, most colleges do not offer housing options for nontraditional students, parents, or students in crisis. Many campuses still operate under the outdated assumption that all students are 18-year-olds with parental support and a dorm waiting for them.
That’s not the reality anymore.
What Makes Rogers State University Stand Out
When I learned that RSU provides:
– Adult housing
– Family housing
– Support for students experiencing homelessness
…I realized how unique this is. Not every college offers this. In fact, many don’t even have the infrastructure to consider it.
RSU’s approach recognizes something simple but revolutionary:
Students are whole people with real lives, real responsibilities, and real challenges.
By offering housing that reflects that reality, RSU isn’t just helping students stay enrolled—they’re helping them rebuild stability, dignity, and hope.
A Call to Action for Students Everywhere
If you’re facing housing instability, or if you know someone who is, check with your local college or university. Ask about:
– Nontraditional student housing
– Family housing
– Emergency housing
– Homeless student support programs
– Community partnerships for transitional housing
You might be surprised by what’s available—or by what should be available but isn’t.
And if your school doesn’t offer these resources, it’s worth advocating for them. Students deserve more than a classroom. They deserve a foundation.
A Call to Action for Colleges
Higher education institutions must recognize that housing is not a luxury. It is a prerequisite for academic success. Colleges that want to improve retention, graduation rates, and student well‑being need to invest in:
– Affordable on‑campus housing
– Family housing
– Emergency housing programs
– Partnerships with local shelters and housing agencies
– Policies that support nontraditional students
RSU has shown what’s possible. It’s time for more institutions to follow.
Because Education Shouldn’t Require Stability You Don’t Have
My friend’s story is not unique. Students across the country are fighting to stay in school while battling homelessness, poverty, and instability. They deserve better. They deserve systems that recognize their humanity and support their success.
Stable housing isn’t just a resource.
It’s a lifeline.
And it’s time we treat it like one.