Success bridge, launched fall 2020
Success Bridge is a three-year, pilot program that will increase college completion for over 500 housing insecure Columbus State students by stabilizing their housing and providing rental assistance, student support services, career development, and employment counseling.
Background. In 2019, the HOPE Center found that 50% of community college students were experiencing housing insecurity with 17% of students experiencing the most severe form of insecurity, homelessness. Students cited that inability to pay rent was the most common cause for housing insecurity. As an institutional participant in the recent #RealCollege survey, we confirmed that Columbus State students are experiencing housing insecurity at similar rates to the alarming national averages. One of these students was Andrew Crowley.
Partners. Success Bridge was created through an innovative partnership among Columbus State Community College (CSCC), the Affordable Housing Alliance of Central Ohio (AHACO), Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority (CMHA), Homeless Families Foundation (HFF), and the Community Shelter Board (CSB).
Start-up funding support came from the Fifth Third Foundation, the Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority, and Columbus State Community College.
About. Through a collaborative design approach, Success Bridge was developed by incorporating local expertise as well as models and promising practices from across the country. The initiative is designed to serve students who, in addition to experiencing housing insecurity and demonstrated financial need, have earned at least 24 credit hours and are in good academic standing. The initiative has two components:
Short-Term Assistance (1-4 months) to address an urgent housing crisis
Medium-Term Assistance (12-28 months) to stabilize students through college completion using identified housing placement partnerships and tenant-based housing assistance.
Students will be able to access Housing Case Managers and short-term assistance through Homeless Families Foundation. CMHA will manage the Medium-Term housing assistance component of Success Bridge. Students will also be encouraged to access wraparound student support services, career development, and employment counseling through student services at Columbus State and in partnership with the college’s Financial Stability partners.
Support. To learn more about how you can invest in the future of hundreds of homeless and housing insecure students in our community, please contact Pam Bishop at pbishop2@cscc.edu.
Other Materials.