"After a few months of being in this role, one of my students shared a very powerful reflection on what this program has done. It was regular follow up meeting with a student that was facing food insecurities, homeless and dealing with other mental health hardships. I checked in and asked how things were going because the student looked very excited and energized which was a different presentation than previously. The student shared the help has given them hope to live through another day and hope to achieve the dream of graduating with a college degree."
- Alex Baker, Founding Case Manager
Pioneers for H.O.P.E (Helping Our Pioneers Excel) California State University, East Bay's new intervention program will address the Chancellor's food and housing security initiatives to include wide-ranging efforts to immediately serve some of our most-at risk students facing homelessness, food insecurity, and other various crisis situations.
Basic Need Initiatives: Meeting students' basic needs everyday.
The program aims to provide at-risk students with meals temporary housing assistance, emergency funds and referrals to resources that correlate to students's success, health and wellness. The H.O.P.E. Advisory Board, with representatives from various departments on campus, has met to implement support for student starting Fall 2016 to include:
(The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, Subtitle B of Title VII)
Homeless defined as a lack of fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, including:
HOPE Goals:
CSUEB wanted to eliminated barriers and address student's basic need first.
CSUEB Services Provided:
As of Spring 2017: 345 people served food (per Household)
Pioneer Students Donated dining meal swipes, HOPE baskets, piggy banks for donations. Staff and Faculty donated food and clothing drives, hosted toiletry kits workshops and annual giving campaign for monetary donation.
HOPE Food Pantry
Hayward campus - October 2016
Concord campus - January 2017
Library Kiosk - October 2017