Basic Needs
Over the last decade, college and university leadership, staff, and faculty have increasingly recognized the urgency of student basic needs.
Basic needs include a student’s essential requirements for health and well-being that must be met in order for them to succeed in college. When students cannot meet their basic needs, it is often (although not always) because they are experiencing short- or long-term financial instability. Examples of basic needs include, but are not limited to:
- Sufficient food
- Adequate and stable housing
- Appropriate physical, mental, and/or behavioral health care
- Ability to pay essential bills
- Transportation to school and employment
- Safe spaces in which to sleep, relax, and study
- Access to showers and other hygiene necessities
- Ability to provide these needs for their children or others for whom they are the primary caregiver
Students who cannot meet their basic needs often cope with these challenges by dropping classes, working more hours, or skipping semesters, all of which puts them at risk for dropping out or not transferring (Dubick et al., 2016; Sackett et al., 2016; Chaplot et al., 2015).
Much of the research on basic needs among college students has focused on hunger and homelessness, and researchers have found that rates of food and housing insecurity are much higher than previously believed—especially in two-year institutions. Food and housing insecurity can create a cognitive, physical, and financial burden that interferes with students’ ability to learn, to achieve a high GPA, or even to remain in college and to learn (PattónLopez et al., 2014; Maroto et al., 2014).
Porterville College is committed to our student and community needs and looks forward to assisting with students’ educational needs on the path to success.
Location: FIT-722 Basic Needs Center/Pirate Pantry
Phone: 559-791-2281
Hours:
Monday - 8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Tuesday - 8:00 am - 5:30 pm
Wednesday - 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Thursday - 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Friday – 8:30 am – 11:30 pm
Homeless Students
- Tiffany Haynes student liaison
- pc_faid@portervillecollege.edu
Showering Facility, AB 1995
Homeless students may use the PC locker room showers Monday-Friday 8:00am - 10:00am *Check-in required AC-103 Financial Aid office*
Eligibility:
- Must be enrolled in 1 unit
- Has paid enrollment fees
- In good standing with the CCD
- Hygiene and showering necessities available upon check-in
- Walking or Appointment Options Available
Community Hot Meal Opportunities
- Helping Hand of Porterville- 135 E Olive Ave, Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 854-7008
Open: Monday 8:00am-1:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am-1:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am-1:00pm
Thursday 8:00am-1:00pm - St. Anne’s Food Pantry- 271 S Wallace St, Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 783-8018
Open: Wednesday 8:30am-11:30am
Thursday 8:30am-11:30am - Stannes Parish Food Pantry
Shelter/Housing
- Temporary Housing Opportunities
Family Crisis Center - 211 N Main St, Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 781-7462
Office Hours: Monday 8:00am-5:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am-5:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am-5:00pm
Thursday 8:00am-5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-5:00pm - Evening Shelter Opportunities
Turning Point, Porterville Welcome Center - 140 S. C St. Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 334-6410
Open: Monday 9:00am-4:00pm
Tuesday 9:00am-4:00pm
Wednesday 9:00am-4:00pm
Thursday 9:00am-4:00pm
Friday 9:00am-4:00pm
Saturday 9:00am-4:00pm
Sunday 9:00am-4:00pm
Resource Opportunities
- Porterville Rescue Mission - 30 South A Street, Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 350-9002
Open: Monday 6:00am-5:30pm
Tuesday 6:00am-5:30pm
Wednesday 6:00am-5:30pm
Thursday 6:00am-5:30pm
Friday 6:00am-5:30pm
Saturday 7:00am-5:30pm
Sunday 7:00am-5:30pm - Wellness Center - 333 W Henderson Ave #1732, Porterville, CA 93257
Phone (559) 570-5000
Office Hours: Monday 8:30 - 5:00pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5:00pm
Friday 9:30am - 5:00pm
Transportation – Porterville City Transit Pass Opportunity
- PC helps students get to and from campus by providing them with a transit pass. Transit passes are available in the Financial Aid Office AC-103.
- Eligibility- Must be a student to get a pass
Student ID Cards
- Create your Student ID on the PC website for FREE (Fall 2022)
- Go to the Student ID request page to begin the process.
CalFresh Application Assistance
- Contact Information
- Sydney Short
- Phone 559-791-2384
- Email - sydney.short@portervillecollege.edu
- Cal Fresh Food
- Complete Interest Form
Pirate Food Pantry
- The Pirate Pantry hosted its grand reopening Spring of 2022, in its new location FIT-722. The location mimics a small grocery store atmosphere where students are able to select the items of their choice with their shopping basket and have them bagged upon departure. Shopping in the Pirate Pantry is welcomed on a weekly routine for enrolled students with a current Pirate Student ID Card.
- Too busy with classes? Need us to shop for you? Let us know what you need and pick up from the Financial Aid office. Complete the Interest Form.
- Financial Aid Food Pantry Page
Neighborhood Market
- Financial Aid Food Pantry
- Fourth Monday of every month (NO distribution in August, December, and January)
- Free student and community food distribution
- Please share this with others who can benefit from this service.
