As the pressure of rising costs burdens college students across the United States, Zahra Malikshah, a senior at Portland State University, emphasizes the importance of a college degree in unlocking opportunities for better-paying jobs and economic stability.
However, she believes many young people face significant barriers to accessing higher education.
Malikshah, 26, who spent part of her childhood in Oregon’s foster care system, highlighted the financial challenges many students face today.
“Kids can’t pick themselves up by their bootstraps anymore because we can’t afford boots,” she stated.
Once students secure the necessary resources, they can indeed begin to improve their circumstances.
Graduating in June with a bachelor’s degree in social science, Malikshah credits programs designed to support financially disadvantaged students for her success in college.
One such program is Affordable Rent for College Students (ARCS), run by College Housing Northwest, which has provided Malikshah with rental assistance, covering half of her $1,100 monthly rent.
This alleviation of financial stress has allowed her to focus more on her studies.
“I have straight A’s and B’s. I have a 3.0 right now,” Malikshah proudly mentioned, underscoring how crucial financial stability is for academic performance.
She further reflected on the importance of allowing students to concentrate on their education rather than merely surviving day to day.
The rising costs of tuition are well-known, but other expenses, including housing, food, and textbooks, have increasingly become hurdles for students.
In response to these challenges, a series of legislative proposals in Oregon aim to expand student support resources, particularly those offering rental assistance like the ARCS program Malikshah benefited from.
The Student Basic Needs and Workforce Stabilization Act, encompassing HB 3182 and HB 3183, requests state legislators to allocate $18.5 million to support students.
More than half of this funding, specifically $10 million, would enhance existing benefits navigator programs.
Meanwhile, $6.5 million would be directed towards affordable housing initiatives for college students, directly impacting programs like ARCS.
Through grants administered by the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, public colleges and universities, along with nonprofits, could access these funds.
The remaining $2 million would be dedicated to the state’s Open Educational Resources program, which provides low-cost and free textbooks for students across Oregon.
This marks the third attempt by college students and their advocates to persuade lawmakers to support this funding package.
The urgency is heightened as federal initiatives offering additional financial aid to low-income students face potential cuts under the Trump Administration.
Nick Keough, legislative analyst with the Oregon affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, warned, “State investments are more important than ever to fill in the gaps left by reduced federal support.
If we don’t act now, students are going to bear the brunt of these cuts.”
However, complications arise from a less favorable state revenue outlook, as recent forecasts indicate Oregon’s budget could be $500 million shorter over the upcoming biennium.
This forecast amplifies the challenges facing higher education funding bills currently under review by the Joint Committee on Ways and Means.
These legislative initiatives build on earlier measures that established benefits navigator positions across Oregon’s public higher education institutions.
Since 2021, the state has mandated the hiring of staff focused on connecting students with vital resources, such as scholarships and social services.
Yet, many navigators have operated with limited or no budget since their roles were created.
If passed, the new bills would finally provide some navigators with dedicated funding, enhancing their capacity to assist students in need.
Supporters assert that these investments could lead to higher graduation rates, aligning with Oregon’s workforce development goals.
According to state projections, around 300,000 jobs requiring post-secondary credentials are expected to be created from 2020 to 2030.
In contrast, the state is anticipated to issue just 200,000 degrees or credentials by the decade’s end.
Alex Aghdaei, a senior at the University of Oregon, addressed the Legislature, stating, “If Oregon is serious about equity, workforce development and student success, then we must invest in addressing students’ basic needs.
The priority for higher education in this session needs to be shoring up our students’ ability to afford to live and learn on our campuses.”
The issue of affordable housing remains a significant barrier for students.
A recent survey from Temple University’s Hope Center revealed alarming statistics: nearly 60% of college students experienced some form of basic needs insecurity between Spring 2023 and Summer 2025.
Among more than 74,000 students surveyed, 48% reported facing unstable housing situations during this period.
Pam Blumenthal, who manages the ARCS program for College Housing Northwest, emphasized the financial burden housing places on students.
“Housing is the most expensive part of going to college,” she remarked, highlighting that while some resources have been dedicated to combatting food insecurity, childcare support, and textbook costs, housing has not received equivalent attention.
She believes the lack of affordable options not only deters potential students from enrolling in college but also causes currently enrolled students to drop out due to high rents.
Blumenthal stated, “We know that attaining some kind of post-secondary education is the clearest path out of poverty.
So if we want to get upstream of chronic homelessness, then education is the way to do that.”
Unfortunately, the ARCS program’s capacity falls far short of the demand; currently, it assists just 125 students throughout the Portland metro area, though there are thousands of potential college students who need help.
Additional state investment could enable the program to expand its reach.
Many of the students benefiting from rental assistance are referred through college benefits navigators.
Michael Koach, a junior at Portland State, encountered his own housing crisis last year and faced the prospect of homelessness after his living situation deteriorated.
“It was either drop out of college and take up a second job to support myself — because rent in Portland is insane — or live out of my car and couch surf with people while I finish my degree,” he recounted.
Thanks to a timely connection with ARCS, Koach secured a subsidized studio apartment and is now on track to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in business in less than a month.
He expressed how crucial rental assistance has been in sustaining him through his final year at Portland State, allowing him to invest time and energy in projects and internships he is passionate about.
“That’s why basic needs programs are so critical for students: it’s kind of a last lifeline before a lot of students drop out of college,” Koach shared.
For many students like Malikshah and Koach, the proposed legislation could represent a significant step forward in addressing the affordability crisis in higher education.
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