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Students Experiencing Housing Insecurity

Determining Eligibility

If you feel you are eligible to be considered a Homeless Student or an unaccompanied youth, please complete this form. Once we review your information, we will contact you to seek any additional information needed to process your request. 

Verify Housing Status

Definition of Homeless Students

Homeless students are children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence. The term “homeless student” will also be deemed to include the term “unaccompanied youth,” which includes a youth who is not in the physical custody of a parent or guardian. Homeless children and youth include those students who are:

  • sharing the house of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason;
  • living in motels, hotels, transient trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
  • living in emergency or transitional shelters;
  • abandoned in hospitals;
  • living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as regular sleeping accommodations for human beings;
  • living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; or
  • living in a migratory situation that qualifies as homeless because the child lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

Resources Available for Homeless Students

Below is a brief list of resources available to WSSU students either provided through WSSU, or found within the local community:


Students verified to be homeless/unaccompanied youth are enrolled in WSSU’s ASPIRE (Academic Scholars Prepared for Impact, Retention and Engagement) Program. ASPIRE students are supported through full-time Resilience Coaches, who provide mentorship, academic support, mandatory study hours, personal and professional growth workshops, as well as many other student-focused opportunities.

Winston-Salem State University’s Student Resource Center (SRC) strives to provide holistic support to help students meet their current and long-term needs and goals. The center connects students to campus and community resources and services to help them overcome barriers that interfere with their success. The SRC collaborative is comprised of the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry and the Career Closet which aims to centralize our resources to:
Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry: Currently enrolled WSSU students can access the WSSU Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry one time per month, obtaining up to thirty (30) food items, two (2) non-food items, and two "bonus items" per month during the academic school year.  Bonus items are items such as a small bag of chips, individual fruit cup, small snack, etc.  A student may only use the Food Pantry one time per month.
Career Closet: The Career Closet provides students with business and casual clothes for interviews, career fairs, formal events, or any career-related functions, both on and off campus. The Career Closet is available to all Winston-Salem State University students seeking to expand their professional wardrobe. These items, donated by faculty, staff, alumni, families, community members or businesses, enable students to make the best possible impression and feel confident during a professional meeting.

The members of the WSSU Counseling Services are here to support students who are experiencing stress, discomfort or dissatisfaction in their personal lives. Counseling services are confidential and available at no cost to all currently enrolled Winston-Salem State University students. If you are an enrolled student and would like to receive services, you can call Counseling Services at (336)-750-3270 to schedule an appointment or use their online scheduling service on their website.

The Wellness Center is available to all WSSU students, and hopes they take advantage of the resources available to be successful during their time at WSSU. The mission of Winston-Salem State University’s A. H. Ray Student Health Service is to meet the health needs of the student community. The Wellness Center can help with most physical health, mental health, and substance abuse concerns. The WSSU Wellness Center also has a full-service Pharmacy that offers prescription services.  Multiple forms of insurance are accepted at the Wellness Center and Pharmacy. 

WSSU’s University Recreation (UREC) hosts a variety of activities and services to promote university involvement, health, wellness and community.  UREC provides a place for students to socialize in a positive environment while maintaining or increasing their fitness level.  UREC is located in the DJR Student Activities Center, and includes three floors of workout equipment, group fitness spaces, and full shower facilities. We help students create balance through fitness, sport and recreational activities.

WSSU residence halls provide students with a safe, caring, comfortable living space that allows them to have fun and make friends while pursuing their academic goals. We are committed to fostering a holistic learning atmosphere which challenges a community of diverse scholars while encouraging collaboration, accountability, responsibility, service, and leadership preparing our students to engage in the global community.
HRL may be able to provide limited housing when WSSU is on breaks or closed. Check their website for additional information about break housing and costs associated with remaining on-campus during these times.  If you have challenges affording break housing costs, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at financial.aid@wssu.edu. Please understand that we cannot guarantee any or all costs of break housing will be waived or covered. 

We are here to assist and support. Oftentimes faculty, staff, families, and fellow students are the first to notice when a student is struggling emotionally, or is demonstrating behaviors that seem troubling, disruptive, or threatening. We know that students can be successful if connected to the appropriate resources on campus. Reaching out to students will help them personally and enhance their academic success. RamCARES can assist students through one-on-one attention and helping students achieve their goals.

  • WSSU Financial Literacy
WSSU partners with campus experts and community agencies to offer a wide variety of financial literacy workshops to meet the needs of our students. To learn more about the financial literacy workshops and offerings, contact Terrance Martin, Associate Professor of Accounting, Economics, and Finance.

Additional Resources in the Community

Crisis Control Ministry is located close to the WSSU campus and has partnered with our Rams Helping Hands Food Pantry to better meet the needs of our students. It provides help with basic life needs to those facing a crisis in Forsyth and Stokes Counties.
  • Forsyth County Food Pantries
  • McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act

The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act (“McKinney Vento Act”) is the primary piece of legislation dealing with the education of children and youth experiencing homelessness. The Act is also known as Title X, Part C of the Every Students Succeeds Act.  The McKinney-Vento Act pertains to K-12 education, and not college campuses; however, WSSU is committed to the success of our students and while we cannot accommodate every aspect of the McKinney-Vento Act, WSSU offers multiple resources to aid students in their success.