How to Advocate for Basic Needs Security
Basic needs like food, shelter, healthcare, and transportation are extremely influential in how we show up in the world. For those who have their needs generally met, interruptions to this can disrupt their life in the short term. For those who struggle to have their needs met regularly, it can impact their participation in life in the long term.
College students in particular are extremely vulnerable to basic needs insecurity. In fact, about 1 out of 3 college students are eligible for SNAP benefits, yet only about a third of that population has accessed those resources, according to a study done by MILeap (MILeap, 2024). For some, advocating for these needs can be seemingly impossible, stacked onto the existing barriers in their lives. For others, witnessing peers experience these struggles can be impactful in its own right. For the latter population, finding ways to advocate for peers can be a vital force in securing a more stable future for all.
There are many ways to advocate for basic needs security on behalf of your peers and for yourself. Protesting, writing to congressmen, and generally participating in civic duties are some of the ways you can be an advocate. One of the ways we will focus on advocating for basic needs is to express the need to someone you trust. Telling your therapist, doctor, or peer recovery coach is a great place to start. By expressing that you are not having your basic needs met to professionals, you can open the door for those professionals to understand the full scope of what you are experiencing. Many empathetic providers may miss the mark simply because they do not have all the information they need. Talking to your therapist about these issues ensures that you will be met with a nonjudgmental response. This is also a way for therapists to be aware of issues arising and facilitate resources for their clients to help meet their basic needs. Another way this can be a tool for advocacy is by helping people understand how you are showing up and giving them the context they need to accommodate you as best they can.
No therapist wants to see their client struggle to have their basic needs met. And as you have probably learned, therapists are not mind readers. They are human just like the rest of us. Therefore, maintaining open and transparent communication with the providers who serve you can help make them aware of barriers that exist in your life and help them provide resources to meet your needs. This is easier said than done, but the first step is having a conversation.
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(517) 322-3050 to get started.