Meeting the basic needs of our Coastline students so you can concentrate on your studies.
Basic Needs
Meeting your basic needs through food access, housing assistance, mental health services, hygiene products, student success supplies/equipment, transportation, and emergency funding so you can concentrate on your studies.
Legal Clinic
The Legal Clinic is back at Coastline College and offering in-person services!
Appointments include 30-minute consultation. Current dates are being held at our Newport Beach Campus from 5 - 6:30pm:
- September 26, 2024
- October 10, 2024
- November 14, 2024
View more information in our Legal Clinic Brochure.
Resource Guide
Coastline is committed to providing you, our students, with tools and resources to help relieve stressors and support your success. This guide lists local services in Orange and Long Beach that we believe may be of help to you.
If you find you need other resources not listed in our Resource Guide, call 211 or visit 211.org. 211 is a hotline that connects people with a wide range of resources for emergency/disasters, housing, employment, health, reentry, and crisis. 211 is accessible 24/7/365. When you call, you will be assisted by a trained professional in your area; all calls are confidential.
An alternative to 211 is FindHelp.org a searchable website (just input your zip code) for free or reduced cost services include medical care, food, housing, job training and more.
About Us
The Coastline Basic Needs office utilizes a holistic approach in dismantling the systemic barriers students face in accessing basic needs resources crucial to their survival and success. We strive to close the basic needs equity gap through student empowerment, campus and community collaboration, and fostering a culture of care.
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The structure of our services aims to remove the burden placed on students to navigate multiple systems, processes, and eligibilities. Our services include:
- Direct food access through our food pantry
- CalFresh application assistance referral
- Coaching, guidance, and referrals for housing
- Mental health support
- Student success school supplies and equipment
- Transportation resources
- Emergency funding
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Coastline College places meeting the basic needs of our students as a top educational priority. We acknowledge that students are humans first and by placing them at the center of the processes we can support their mental and physical health, academic performance, work productivity, and holistic success. Continuing to learn, shift, and improve as students' needs change are all important to our approach.
Meet the Team
- Leighia Fleming, Ed.D. (she/her)
- Interim Dean of Students
- lfleming5@coastline.edu
- Christina Oja, Ed.D.
- Acting Director Student Equity and Title IX
- coja@cccd.edu
- Vanessa Ayala
- Student Equity Program Assistant
- vayala2@cccd.edu
- Andy Martinez-Lezama
- Project Coordinator, Basic Needs
- amartinezlezama@cccd.edu
- Dao Huynh
- Federal Work Study, Basic Needs
- dhuynh144@student.cccd.edu
- Jessie Huynh
- Federal Work Study, Basic Needs
- jhuynh38.s@cccd.edu
Telehealth for Students
24/7 TimelyCare Virtual Clinic
Coastline College offers free 24/7 virtual health and wellbeing services through TimelyCare.
TimelyCare provides options to students seeking evening or weekend appointments, located out of state, needing bilingual therapy, and/or desiring providers that reflect the students' backgrounds, identities, and experiences.
Learn more at Health Services | TimelyCare.
Get Involved
Please email basicneeds@coastline.edu and introduce yourself if you are interested in:
- Receiving a monthly newsletter about basic needs services and educational resources
- Interviewing someone working in Basic Needs
- Donating to Basic Needs and want more information
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- Myth: Food insecurity is the same as hunger.
- Fact: Food insecurity is the limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe food, or the ability to acquire such food in a socially acceptable manner. The most extreme form is often accompanied by physiological sensations of hunger. Food security can be determined using the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Survey.
- Myth: Food Insecurity is not a problem in the United States.
- Fact: Nearly one in eight people across the nation experience food insecurity, and the number continues to grow during the coronavirus pandemic. Among college students, a recent survey by the Hope Center found that 45% of college students were food insecure in the prior 30 days.
- Myth: Food insecurity can be solved through food alone.
- Fact: Food insecurity involves multiple factors which require different solutions.
- Individuals impacted by food insecurity are often faced with impossible choices - whether to buy food or pay for transportation, utility bills or medication.
- According to a Feeding America study, 69% of low-income households had to choose between food and utilities, while 66% were torn between food and medical care.
- Along with homelessness, incarceration and unemployment, other factors include jobs that pay minimum wages, housing costs, and limited transportation options.
- Myth: I'm just one person. I can't have much of an impact on the fight against hunger.
- Fact: By joining with others, you can meet needs directly in your community Each one of us can make a difference. If you are interested in helping Coastline address food insecurity, send us an email at basicneeds@coastline.edu.
Student Feature: Athena Nino
How Perseverance and Determination Leads to Open Doors
Throughout her journey, Athena's committed mindset, steadfast dedication, and perseverance to achieve her goal of higher education have been pivotal to getting to her destination. Her story shows the importance and impact of having access to the right resources while in pursuit of a higher education.
"They make me feel included. They make me feel seen and heard. I just feel very lucky to have found Coastline. They've helped me grow in many ways." -Athena Nino
Income Benefits Information
Information from Income Benefits for College Students, prepared by John Burton Advocates for Youth - April 6, 2020.
Many students are dealing with emergency needs resulting from the COVID-19 crisis and the consequent economic downturn. The economic fallout from the crisis is likely to last months, if not years, and it is therefore crucial that students take action now to shore up their economic stability over the long term at the same time that they address emergent needs. The resources below may not offer immediate relief but are nonetheless crucial to put in place alongside emergency relief measures as quickly as possible.
- Unemployment benefits
- Economic impact payments
- Earned Income Tax Credit
- Covered CA Health Insurance & Medi-Cal
- CalFresh
- Utility Assistance
- Financial Aid
Student Complaints
Coastline College extends to all students the right to file a complaint or grievance to be addressed. Coastline. The right to grieve may be initiated at any time when the student has a grievance against any college employee, policy, or procedure at Coastline College.
If you as a student have experienced, harassment, discrimination or would like to share any concerns, we ask that you do so.
Every effort will be made to preserve confidentiality as grievances are fairly and equitably considered. The procedures allow students to exhaust every administrative level possible to receiving a fair and complete hearing of their concerns in an effort to seek resolution.
Coastline Service Complaint Form
Bus Pass for Coastline Students
Ride the OC bus to school, work, shopping, and beach for free!
With unlimited rides on all OC Bus local fixed routes (additional fare applies for OC Express & Express Routes), it is easy and convenient to get to Coastline College. Ride with peace of mind knowing that you are contributing to a healthier and greener environment. Learn more about the Coastline Bus Pass.