During the height of the pandemic, Bre worked tirelessly as a nursing assistant. She witnessed firsthand the overwhelming demands placed on nurses and healthcare professionals and the critical need for quality healthcare. Despite the challenges and burnout, Bre wished she could do more—and knew it would require going back to school to become a nurse. In 2022, she embarked on this journey by enrolling at LaGuardia Community College.
Read NCS CEO Ann Shalof’s op-ed in the Times Union to learn how NCS Scholars is helping homeless and housing-insecure City University of New York students complete their degrees and achieve independence—and why programs like this one for homeless college students need to be funded.
In 2019, 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. That is, approximately 34,000 CUNY students are actively working toward earning their degrees without access to stable housing.
M is one of those students. But in October 2022 he was one of the first Medgar Evers College students to move into NCS Scholars.
“I intend to become a nurse and I know this possibility from just being able to have my own space is gonna make me persevere and get that goal. Attain it. And achieve it. With no doubt in my mind.”
Isabella
Medgar Evers College student and NCS Scholars resident
NCS Scholars addresses the growing crisis of housing insecurity among college students. Read more from CNN.
NCS Scholars is led by Mary Jacobs (nee Clark) previously the Senior Case Manager at Louis Nine House (LNH), NCS’s supportive residence for young adults. “I love working with young people who have experienced homelessness,” she shared. “I love helping them break down barriers and helping them reach their goals.”
In October, students began moving into NCS Scholars: LIC, our program that houses CUNY students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity. Residents have access to on-site supports that address issues associated with homelessness and housing insecurity.