At Fresno City College, success in classes begins with stability. FCC recognizes that many students face challenges such as housing instability and financial hardship. FCC Basic Needs Center offers a chance for students to get help with the essentials.
The Basic Needs Center is a program that offers help to students with issues like hunger, housing and finances. They also offer mental and physical health services. The center is located at the Student Center on campus in room 216 (named Psychological Services), and can be contacted by phone (559-442-8299) or by email, [email protected].
Students who seek help from the center are encouraged to complete a basic needs student request, which can be found on the Basic Needs website. The form requires basic information, including a student’s ID, phone number and email. A counselor will reach out to them within two business days via their school email to discuss their needs, according to the Basic Needs website.
Monique Reyna, the senior program specialist and housing lead at the Basic Needs Center, said there are stigmas that some students feel when applying.
“There’s a lot of stereotypes, so we do get students that are hesitant to come in, but there’s no judgment here, so regardless of their situation we’re here to help them,” Reyna said.
The Basic Needs Center at FCC is an important resource for many students, whether it comes to housing instability, food hunger or other challenges, the center works with students both on and off campus to help them achieve their goals.
The number of students the program serves per semester depends on the services needed.
‘For Fall 2025 we assisted roughly 125 through one of our 4 housing programs,” Reyna said. “Community referrals and other housing services is roughly about another 200 students a semester.”