Student Housing, Resource, and Partnerships - On Campus Podcast

Jillian Sitjar is the Director of Higher Education Partnerships at SchoolHouse Connection. Jillian works to identify best practices for supporting students experiencing homelessness and works closely with SHC's policy team to remove barriers on the state and federal levels. She provides practical assistance in partnership with high schools, colleges and universities, service providers, and other community-based organizations. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies from Butler University and a Master's in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of South Carolina.Homelessness, food insecurity, and the need to provide students with resources is an ever-increasing issue. According to the National Center for Homeless Education, unaccompanied homeless youth, while desiring to attend college, may have barriers to enrollment. According to a 2020 Hope Center report, 14% of college students experienced homelessness in 2020. In the same 2020 Hope Center report, several students reported temporarily staying with friends and family or couch-surfing. Increasing access to financial aid tools, increasing access, and expanding resources can assist college and university students of all ages.Learn more about CITI Program at about.citiprogram.org