On Jan. 5, Cabrillo College announced a three-year grant totaling $633,334 to support programs that address students’ basic needs and improve graduation and transfer outcomes.
The grant will help Cabrillo College’s Nourishment and Essential Supports Team (NEST) Resource Center in Aptos improve students’ social, emotional, academic, and career development by creating a more centralized college navigation system connecting them with resources for food, housing, transport, and technology, as well as health and wellness coaching
The grant will also enable Cabrillo to establish a NEST Resource Center at its Watsonville Center.
Funding comes from the U.S. Department of Education’s Basic Needs – Supporting Student Success Program.
The goal is to have a ‘single stop’ model where students can get needs met in one place.
“For many college students in our 19th Congressional District, the cost of living can make it difficult to attend school full time and get on with their careers,” said Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley). “This federal funding will allow Cabrillo College’s one-stop NEST Resource Center to better assist students in navigating available community resources, provide counseling, and a supportive environment. This federal investment is another important step to help ensure students’ success in the classroom and in our community.”
“Cabrillo students are experiencing the most extreme levels of housing and food insecurity due to a severe shortage of affordable housing and the extremely high cost of living in Santa Cruz County,” said Matt Wetstein, Cabrillo president and superintendent. “We are grateful for this grant, which will allow our NEST Resource Center to become a one-stop resource for our students, connecting them with the basic needs that often become a barrier to completion.”
Cabrillo staff will partner with Second Harvest Food Bank and Salud Para La Gente to refer students stable and sustainable food and healthcare resources.
Cabrillo NEST staff will also continue to work with the Santa Cruz County Continuum of Care partners to address housing insecurity.
The grant outcomes include increasing the number of students served at the Aptos and Watsonville NEST Resource Centers, as well as increasing the number of online students served by an online food ordering system.
The goal is to increase the number of underrepresented students served with basic needs grants by 300%, thereby increasing their persistence, completion, graduation, and/or transfer
Another goal is to connect 300 additional students with health, mental health, and accessibility services.