WHEREAS, in Fall 2020, the national Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice (Hope Center) assessed students’ basic needs security and their well-being, as indicated by employment status, academic engagement, and mental health. In total, over 195,000 students from 130 two-year colleges and 72 four-year colleges and universities responded to the 2020 survey; and
WHEREAS, the Hope Center determined 48% of surveyed students were affected by housing insecurity, and 14% of surveyed students were affected by homelessness; and
WHEREAS, in 2018, the Hope Center surveyed 1,741 University of Delaware students and determined that 25% of surveyed students were affected by housing insecurity in the previous year, and 10% of surveyed students were affected by homelessness in the previous year; and
WHEREAS in the fall of 2017, Delaware Technical Community College (DTCC) surveyed 670 students and determined that 13% of surveyed students were affected by homelessness at some point during the previous year, and 5.7 percent were affected by homelessness in the 30 days prior to the survey; and,
WHEREAS, since March 2020, 395 students at DTCC have requested emergency support, where 7% identified their need as related to experiencing homelessness or preventing homelessness.
NOW, THEREFORE:
BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:
Section 1. Amend Subchapter II, Chapter 40, Title 31 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:
§ 4029. Korey Thompson Student Emergency Housing Assistance Fund.
(a) There is established the Korey Thompson Student Emergency Housing Assistance Fund for the benefit of college and university students experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity, referred to in this section as the “Fund.” DSHA shall oversee and administer all funds deposited in the Fund, including any funds appropriated by the State to the Fund, as well as any federal funds received from the American Rescue Plan or other COVID relief grants for this purpose.
(b) The Fund must be used exclusively for the provision of housing assistance to individuals enrolled in an undergraduate program at any college or university in this State.
(c) DSHA shall develop eligibility criteria, an application process, appropriate limitations on assistance, and a method of distribution.
(d) DSHA shall report to the Governor and the General Assembly by December 1 of each year all expenditures made from the Fund, including an accounting of how many individuals were served and what institution each individual attended. No personal identifying information may be included in the report.
Section 2. For Fiscal Year 2022, $90,000 is appropriated to the Korey Thompson Student Emergency Housing Assistance Fund. Any funds that are not granted by the Delaware State Housing Authority by the end of Fiscal Year 2022 shall revert to the General Fund.
