“There are also students who are not getting enough food and struggle with food insecurity,” according to Provost Katie Lynch.
Approximately 6.43 percent of Monmouth County residents live below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In fact, some Monmouth County communities have higher poverty rates than the national average of 12.4 percent, such as Asbury Park (18.8 percent) and Freehold Borough (14.3 percent).
Brookdale students who live below the poverty line are affected in many ways.
“Some students have to work multiple jobs to support their families, or they may even live on their own. Some students also have trouble being able to pay for transportation,” Lynch said.
“We know that Monmouth County has a reputation for being affluent, but there are still people who live below the poverty line here at Brookdale,” Lynch said.
Brookdale’s campus offers several programs where students in need can get help.
The Laptop Loaner Program is located in the library and provides loaner laptops so that students can get their work done.
The Wellness Center offers assistance and programs for students coping with mental health issues. Wellness Center workers can refer students to mental health professionals if necessary.
“Most of what stops students from success is not because of the classes themselves, but rather because of something that is going on in students’ personal lives,” the provost said.
In addition to informing students about existing resources, Lynch said it is also important that Brookdale receives the funding it needs from private donors and county, state and federal sources to be able to gain more resources for students in need.
“We need more funding, especially emergency funds, which can help students who are dealing with an emergency in their life. For example, if a student’s car breaks down, we should be able to help them pay for the repairs in some way. Funding comes from donors and right now, we need more funding for these emergency funds to work,” Lynch said.
