Introducing NCS Scholars: LIC

A survey conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that 14% of City University of New York (CUNY) students experience homelessness. Too often, this derails their pursuit of a degree.  

NCS wants to change this. In October, students began moving to NCS Scholars: LIC, our program that houses CUNY students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.  

The program provides year-round, stable housing and on-site supports that will give unhoused students the best chance to complete their degrees and begin successful futures. “For generations, CUNY has been a gateway to the middle class for thousands of New Yorkers," said Ann L. Shalof, Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter. "Sadly, many students will never complete their degrees, not because they lack motivation, but because they do not have access to stable housing." 

“Housing insecurity creates a serious obstacle to academic success for a significant number of students at CUNY. It is a problem that cuts to the very heart of educational equity in our city and the nation,” said CUNY Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez. “The Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter pilot represents an important advance in our efforts to help students overcome personal circumstances that impede their pursuit of a degree. By providing much-needed housing along with access to crucial social and mental health services and supports, the pilot will help students address the underlying causes and consequences of housing insecurity. It is a model that we hope to replicate, and we are grateful to NCS for its invaluable collaboration and support.”  

Students who have secure housing are more likely to enroll full-time, perform better academically, and graduate. And New York City residents with bachelor’s degrees earn more than twice the annual salary of those with only high school diplomas. NCS Scholars: LIC will house up to 36 students as part of a pilot designed to demonstrate that a relatively small, relatively short-term investment can change the trajectory of students’ lives. We are working to ensure these services are replicated to serve more students across New York City and beyond.   

Forty years ago, NCS was among the first organizations to tackle the problem of widespread homelessness. NCS was among the first to offer supportive housing, young adult housing, and ground-breaking harm-reduction substance-use treatment. NCS Scholars continues our long tradition of pioneering innovative solutions to complicated issues and providing housing and support that can transform lives.