Basic Needs

Housing

Assistance with living spaces available to Coastline students.

Technology

Coastline's emergency computer loan program and wifi assistance.

Textbooks

Need books for classes? Check if you qualify for a book voucher.

What are Basic Needs?

Basic Needs at Coastline College includes food access, housing assistance, mental health services, hygiene products, student success supplies/equipment, transportation, and emergency funding. Basic needs services & resources are coordinated to serve and support students to be successful in your educational journey.

Who are we?

We are the Basic Needs Office. We provide direct food access service to Coastline students through our drive-up food pantry, Coastline Cares Pantry. We provide coaching, guidance, and referrals for housing assistance. We partner with other departments on campus to provide basic needs services and resources for mental health, hygiene, student success school supplies and equipment, transportation, and emergency funding.

Why do we do this work?

We work to meet students basic needs because it is crucial to survival and success through college. With increasing costs and stress/stressors, paying for and making it through college is becoming both difficult and necessary. We seek equity and providing basic needs services is one step in closing the equity gap.

How do we approach this work?

We keep student success, persistence, and retention at the center of services and resources. We provide structure for the basic needs services we offer so students aren't burdened with navigating multiple systems, processes, and eligibilities. We use data & analytics to make decisions and maximize the impact of basic needs support services - this means that sometimes we ask a lot of questions and seek to know about the fullness of students and student experiences. Continuing to learn, shift, and improve as student needs change are all important to our approach. We are open to and seek out opportunities for collaboration, connection, and partnership - within the college and community.

• Food Insecurity: Facts & Myths

  Myth: Food insecurity is the same as hunger.

  Fact: Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner. The most extreme form is often accompanied by physiological sensations of hunger. Food security can be determined using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Survey.

  Myth: Food Insecurity is not a problem in the United States.

  Fact: Nearly one in eight people across the nation experience food insecurity, and the number continues to grow during the coronavirus pandemic. Among college students, a recent survey by the Hope Center found that 45% of college students were food insecure in the prior 30 days.

  Myth: Food insecurity can be solved through food alone.

  Fact: Food insecurity involves multiple factors which require different solutions.

  Individuals impacted by food insecurity are often faced with impossible choices - whether to buy food or pay for transportation, utility bills or medication.

  According to a Feeding America study, 69% of low-income households had to choose between food and utilities, while 66% were torn between food and medical care.

  Along with homelessness, incarceration and unemployment, other factors include jobs that pay minimum wages, housing costs, and limited transportation options.

  Myth: I'm just one person. I can't have much of an impact on the fight against hunger.

  Fact: By joining with others, you can meet needs directly in your community Each one of us can make a difference. If you are interested in helping Coastline address food insecurity, send us an email at basicneeds@coastline.edu.

Income Benefits Information

Information from Income Benefits for College Students, prepared by John Burton Advocates for Youth – April 6, 2020.

Many students are dealing with emergency needs resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and the consequent economic downturn. The economic fallout from the crisis is likely to last months, if not years, and it is therefore crucial that students take action now to shore up their economic stability over the long term at the same time that they address emergent needs. The resources below may not offer immediate relief but are nonetheless crucial to put in place alongside emergency relief measures as quickly as possible.

• Unemployment benefits
• Economic impact payments
• Earned Income Tax Credit
• Covered CA Health Insurance & Medi-Cal
• CalFresh
• Utility Assistance
• Financial Aid

Student Complaints

Coastline College extends to all students the right to file a complaint or grievance to be addressed. Coastline. The right to grieve may be initiated at any time when the student has a grievance against any college employee, policy, or procedure at Coastline College.

If you as a student have experienced, harassment, discrimination or would like to share any concerns, we ask that you do so.

Every effort will be made to preserve confidentiality as grievances are fairly and equitably considered. The procedures allow students to exhaust every administrative level possible to receiving a fair and complete hearing of their concerns in an effort to seek resolution.

Coastline Service Complaint Form

Bus Pass for Coastline Students

Bus Pass for Coastline Students

Bus Pass for Coastline Students

Ride the OC bus to school, work, shopping, and beach for free!

With unlimited rides on all OC Bus local fixed routes (additional fare applies for OC Express & Express Routes), it is easy and convenient to get to Coastline College. Ride with peace of mind knowing that you are contributing to a healthier and greener environment. Learn more about the Coastline Bus Pass.