Light the Way: The Campaign for Berkeley

Not long after Ellis Sentoso’s father died in 2020, she transferred to UC Berkeley from community college. But the threat of homelessness forced her to stay temporarily in several places, and grief and illness made passing her classes difficult. The horizon brightened after Berkeley’s Basic Needs Center provided Ellis with housing, financial, and emotional support. Her grades improved, and she found a home — with three students she calls friends for life.

(Watch a video on how the BNC helps students thrive when they need it most.)

Basic needs insecurity, the lack of resources for necessities that support well-being, has pervaded U.S. universities for decades. Berkeley is no exception, where 39 percent of undergraduates report food insecurity, and 10 percent of undergraduate and graduate students report homelessness. As our efforts to admit more underrepresented students have increased, so, too, have students’ needs, especially as college and living costs remain high. Financial aid, scholarships, and fellowships do not fully cover these expenses.

Along with other UC centers considered among the first at universities nationwide, Berkeley’s Basic Needs Center (BNC) is a one-stop-shop to address these needs. Its groundbreaking practices move beyond an emergency model, in which students receive support during isolated crises. Instead, the BNC approaches each student holistically; welcomes them into a community of care and dignity committed to belonging and justice; connects them to other resources; and sticks with them throughout their journey. Ultimately it aims to ensure no students go unserved and thrive in making meaningful contributions to the world.

The BNC provides equitable access to:

• nutritious food
• rapid rehousing
• financial support
• physical and mental healthcare
• reliable internet and other technology
• transportation
• support for students in unique circumstances.

Creating a more compassionate university

During the pandemic, Ron Rivers ’20 became unhoused. To his surprise, a Basic Needs Center (BNC) case manager secured a hotel room for over four weeks, as well as funds to buy food — helping him when he needed it most.

As long as unforeseen crises like COVID-19 disrupt students’ education or livelihood, and as long as systemic poverty exists, the BNC will remain the heart of Berkeley’s commitment to assisting students on the path to success. In 2019−20, the BNC served over 10,000 students — a 150 percent increase over 2018−19 — and your generosity enabled us to expand our ability to quickly and compassionately address emergency needs.

Looking ahead, the BNC will continue to evolve so that every student can access the necessary resources to thrive, regardless of their circumstances. Your support ensures we can:

Sustain and grow our services, which include connecting students to CalFresh, a federal food assistance program; one-on-one care coordination with a case manager; a food pantry; short-term emergency housing; life skills seminars; emergency financial support; a newly renovated community kitchen; and free to-go meals.

Expand the village. It can be exhausting and overwhelming for students to navigate multiple organizations to find what they need. The BNC is building a strong network with university and off-campus partners so students receive answers and services rapidly and effectively when they need it most.

Lead the nation. The BNC is sharing effective practices and research with our peers nationwide and working with local, state, and federal government to engage students in policy decisions, such as removing access barriers to CalFresh, increasing the federal Pell grant for undergraduates with exceptional financial need, and advocating for equitable financial aid investments for graduate/professional school students.

Basic needs insecurity impacts the health, development, and success of our students, and thus of our community. With your help, we can build a university rooted in basic needs justice for all.