Date of Award
4-2023
Document Type
Dissertation
Selected Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership for Diverse Learning Communities
Department
Education
School
School of Education and Human Services
Abstract
Homelessness among college students is becoming more prevalent in the United States. These students face many challenges trying to navigate and persevere through college; however, the stories of their college experiences have rarely been told. In this study, a hermeneutic, phenomenological design was used to explore the lived experience of college students who are experience homelessness. The analysis of five students who are experiencing homelessness brings awareness to a problem that too often goes undetected and unsupported in college. The results of this study showed that the lived experiences of college students who are homeless were shaped by financial insecurity and feelings of internalized stigma and social isolation. Lack of financial security created challenges in students paying for meals and other basic needs. Internalized stigma negatively impacted their communication with friends, their mental health, their ability to focus on classwork, and their outlook. Students often felt that they had to be selfsufficient and not seek the help of others because of their social isolation. At the same time, students wanted the college to do more to help them, including conducting regular, one-to-one check-ins with them and having a point person designated at the college to assist with financial hardships. Despite their challenges, the students in this study were motivated by their homelessness to perform well in college and to obtain a degree to rise out of poverty. Implications of this research aim to assist higher education administrators, faculty, and advisors to better understand the experiences and needs of college students who are homeless and to support their college goals more effectively
Related Pillar(s)
Study
Recommended Citation
Samuels, Voniesha, "Exploring the Phenomenon of College Students Who Are Experiencing Homelessness and Their Persistence to Graduation" (2023). Theses & Dissertations. 209.
https://digitalcommons.molloy.edu/etd/209
