30 December 2024
When discussing equity in higher education, housing is often overlooked compared to other challenges such as enrollment, tuition, and food insecurity. It is nonetheless a salient issue adversely affecting the lives of tens of thousands of college students, denying marginalized populations the same opportunity for success granted to others. Limited access to affordable housing has led to a range of profoundly adverse developmental outcomes in student bodies, including increased feelings of stress, anxiety, and isolation from one’s peers. Though college administrators have taken some proactive steps in recent years to address this crisis, further policy changes will likely be necessitated to effect a lasting solution.
At present, the upperclassmen on-campus housing program at the University of Pittsburgh relies on a lottery system; a student will be assigned a date at which they may log on to the housing portal and make their selection. Because housing at Pitt is not guaranteed for its upperclassmen students, many who get a later lottery number will have few, if any, on-campus options to choose from. This fact has a more disparate impact on some than others. Though for any student getting a later lottery number may result in getting less favorable housing, for low-income students their draw in the lottery may determine whether on-campus housing is a feasible option at all.
Game theory-– a branch of economics that studies decision-making in situations where multiple individuals make choices that affect each other’s outcomes– suggests a housing process like this would cause a “sequential game” dynamic where each player’s choices are constrained by previous players’ decisions, leaving late players with diminished options. The first group, “early selectors” having priority access, is likely to choose housing options that maximize their preferences—whether that’s the “best” based on either overall quality (desirability, location, amenities, etc..) or price point relative to the individual, but either way this group will have the most favorable outcome for them because they, for the most part, have all options available to them. The Second Group, the “middle selector,” With fewer desirable quality options remaining, this group-– even if cost isn’t a major deterrent for them–might strategically focus on minimizing cost because they, at this point, are already left with the “less favorable” options, they might as well select the cheapest among the housing that is left. This leaves the Third Group, or “late selectors.” The last group of students is often left with whatever remains after the earlier groups have chosen. This could mean being left with the most expensive housing with the fewest entities. A low-income student has more to lose by being farther back in the lottery process than their peers.
When these students realize their situation, they must often pivot to non-campus-owned options. Off-campus housing introduces accessibility of information tradeoff; while on-campus housing provides administrative support that helps bridge the knowledge gap for first-generation students, pursuing off-campus options leaves them at a far greater starting disadvantage, forcing them to navigate complex processes without the same institutional guidance. Additionally, at this point in January, you are often already at a disadvantage in finding off-campus housing, as students who had planned to do this all along sign their leases as early as October the year prior. This stress is compounded for students who lack financial and logistical support from their families. Today, many students across the United States face a housing crisis due to skyrocketing costs and limited accessibility; first-generation college students have been left particularly vulnerable to these challenges because of a lack of institutional knowledge and often limited fiscal resources. One such student I spoke with notes that navigating the off-campus housing process requires parental guidance, so far as even cosigning on the lease for some families parents aren’t comfortable financially advising, dealing with landlords/property management companies, or cosigning on a lease. The reality is that students without these resources often face a steeper learning curve and added stress in securing affordable housing close to campus. This not only disadvantages them in managing their time and resources effectively but also incurs significant opportunity costs. Due to the added strain of managing housing logistics, these students may have to forgo engaging in extracurricular activities, networking opportunities, or even part-time work. The inequities in housing outcomes created a dual burden of financial strain and missed opportunities, further entrenching the challenges faced by first-generation and low-income students.
Additionally, in Oakland, the lower-cost housing options are often farther from campus. Still, this issue is particularly dire for vulnerable student groups, as it potentially pushes students who need on-campus resources even farther from factors that support positive higher education outcomes. For example, many students may have been offered Federal Work-Study (FWS) positions with their admission package to supplement their financial aid plan. There is a major overlap between individuals participating in FWS and first-gen student population; for example, at Florida Southwestern State College, approximately 40% of students participating in the Federal Work-Study (FWS) program identify as first-generation [1]. This is likely because work-study positions allow students to earn money they may need to pay tuition by working in on-campus facilities, making it easier to balance their schedules and academic availability [2]. In 2022, approximately 700-800 Pitt students participated in the FWS program [4]. Failing to prioritize these individuals for on-campus housing or lacking city policies that ensure affordable housing options near campus represents a significant loss for academic equitability.
Studies from Higher Education Insider have shown that first-generation students tend to have lower participation in campus activities, which may relate to the costs and distance associated with off-campus housing [3]. In Oakland, proximity to campus comes with a price, and when that proximity is essential for engagement in extracurriculars that build resumes and job prospects, low-income students without strong family support face significant barriers.
While some policymakers have attempted to address Pittsburgh’s rental housing issues, current efforts fall short of meeting students’ needs, particularly in terms of cost. Pittsburgh’s recent Rental Registration initiative—championed by Mayor Ed Gainey—required landlords to register properties, pay fees, and comply with inspections to ensure safe, livable rentals. However, this program, which focused on improving rental quality rather than affordability, was recently struck down by Pennsylvania courts [6]. Although Gainey plans to pursue renter protections further, his policies have yet to make renting near campus more financially accessible.
A successful equitability solution would start at the root cause: housing. Until the City of Pittsburgh undertakes a major initiative for affordable housing in Oakland, the University of Pittsburgh should take steps to reduce this gap by either reserving some of the lower-cost on-campus housing for low-income or first-gen students at later points in the housing lottery.
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Works Cited
[1] “Florida SouthWestern State College,” n.d. https://www.fsw.edu/firstgen#:~:text=Approximately%2041%25%20of%20all%20FSW%20students%20are%20considered%20first%20generation.
[2] Office of Admissions and Financial Aid, University of Pittsburgh. “Federal Work Study Program at the University of Pittsburgh.” Financial Aid | University of Pittsburgh, March 1, 2020. https://financialaid.pitt.edu/types-of-aid/federal-work-study/#:~:text=Federal%20Work%2DStudy%20(FWS),the%20availability%20of%20federal%20funds.
[3] Flaherty, Colleen. “Survey: Barriers to College Students’ Campus Engagement.” Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs, September 22, 2023. https://www.insidehighered.com/news/student-success/college-experience/2023/09/22/survey-barriers-college-students-campus.
[4] The Pitt News. Federal Work Study Archives – the Pitt News. n.d. The Pitt News. https://pittnews.com/article/tag/federal-work-study/.
[5] “Pittsburgh’s Push for Rental Registration Nixed by Appeals Court.” PublicSource, March 21, 2023. https://www.publicsource.org/pittsburgh-rental-registration-commonwealth-court-decision-landlord-inspection/.
[6] Deng, Anna. “Gainey Highlights Affordable Housing at CMU Town Hall.” The Tartan, January 29, 2024. https://the-tartan.org/2024/01/28/gainey-highlights-affordable-housing-at-cmu-town-hall/
Policy & Political Review 