FITCHBURG, Mass. — A new program at Fitchburg State University is set to begin this fall, designed to support students with housing insecurities.

The “Moving to College” scholarship program will help support the school’s unaccompanied homeless youth as they transition to, progress through and complete their college education. Covered costs include year-round, on-campus housing; meal plans; case management; and other support services.

“The Moving to College Scholarship program was launched this year through the State Department of Higher Education with funding from state and federal sources,” said Laura Bayless, Fitchburg State’s vice president for student affairs. “Fitchburg State is proud to be a partner in this effort.”

The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University found that in 2019, 32 percent of college students at Fitchburg State experienced housing insecurity. That number more than doubled from the respondents in the previous year.

“Although the program is starting small, we believe eliminating this barrier to educational achievement will have a profound influence on the students who are able to take advantage of it,” Bayless said.

The program aims to effectively intervene and address house insecurity among Massachusetts college students. Students will be identified for the program through the school and its community partners including the Fitchburg Public Schools, LUK Inc. and Mount Wachusett Community College.

To be eligible, students must be Housing Choice Voucher income eligible, which uses 50 percent of the Area Median Income for Individual Income limits. Students must also complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The program is also only open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents or green card holders, as the scholarships are paid through federal money.

Applicants must maintain full-time enrollment in a degree program. There is no GPA requirement, but students must maintain academic and behavioral standing.

“We look forward to supporting our partners in this initiative as we strive to remove barriers to higher education,” said Mount Wachusett Community College President James Vander Hooven. “Housing and food insecurity are significant problems for college students, and this program is a positive move toward addressing these issues.”

The university will house up to five students a year through the program.

“Fitchburg State has long been a student-centered campus, nationally recognized for supporting social mobility,” President Richard Lapidus said. “The Moving to College Program will open doors of opportunity for more students, and we are honored to be a part of it.”

The school will also provide meal plans through the program. Along with LUK Inc., they will provide additional case management and wraparound services to support successful graduation and post-graduation stability.

“We know that education opens doors to life-changing personal and professional opportunities,” Bayless said. “Creating access to education is central to Fitchburg State’s mission, and this program embodies that value in a very tangible way.”