Pathways to Opportunity

Basic Needs Oregon

Basic Needs Oregon aims to close opportunity gaps for low-income college students by connecting them to essential resources that help reduce their basic needs insecurity. The program supports Oregon community college and public university students in accessing local, state, and federal benefits through the assistance of benefits navigators, who are staff members at each public college and university. Benefits navigators assist students in determining their eligibility for benefit programs and applying for assistance.

The statewide consortium, led by Portland Community College, in turn supports navigators through a community of practice, training, data collection, and resource sharing. Oregon House Bill 2835 (2021) allocated $5 million to the Higher Education Coordinating Committee to distribute to colleges statewide to hire benefits navigators. Now in state law ORS 350.262.

Woman holds food items at basic needs fair

Learn more about this ground-breaking work

Discover basic needs services at a community college or university near you