Each year, the Teaching & Learning Excellence Division (TLED) print wall calendar is designed to inspire faculty to take a deep dive into higher education issues, and this year’s edition is no different. This year’s theme is “Empowering Students by Meeting Basic Needs,” with each month in the calendar highlighting specific essential resources, showcasing how Austin Community College (ACC) and the surrounding community address twelve basic needs through:

Innovative curriculum integration

  • ACC faculty have addressed students’ basic needs within their instruction, from free sewing classes to mental health workshops.

Supportive campus resources

  • From food pantries to technology loans, ACC campuses are equipped with resources designed to support students’ daily needs directly.

Active community engagement

  • We collaborate with local organizations and initiatives to extend support beyond the campus, ensuring that our students can access comprehensive services and opportunities within the wider community.

The goal of this calendar is to ensure faculty are informed about the essential resources available to students. We hope this will help create an educational environment where all students can succeed. For August, the basic need being highlighted is Housing.

Housing

We’re committed to ensuring every student has the support they need to reach their goals. Housing insecurity remains one of the most pressing barriers to college completion, affecting students’ focus, mental health, and ability to fully engage in their coursework. Without a stable place to live, students are more likely to miss classes, withdraw from courses, or drop out entirely. By addressing this basic need, we create the foundation for students to not only persist but thrive, academically and beyond.

Stable housing is vital for student success at ACC. We offer tailored housing support to meet the diverse needs of our students. Our services include Housing Agreements and Locator Services to help find affordable accommodations, as well as guidance on temporary housing, shelters, and eviction prevention. We are committed to ensuring every student has a secure, comfortable place to call home, so they can focus on thriving academically and personally.

Resources to Share With Your Students

Affordable Housing Information

Resources and tips for finding cost-effective living solutions, as well as Student Advocates available on each campus to assist with basic needs, including housing support.

Affordable Housing Search

Assistance in finding suitable accommodations tailored to student needs.

Eviction Prevention Information

Guidance on maintaining housing stability and legal rights.

Housing Guidance

Includes options for temporary housing and shelters.

  • Austin Shelter for Women and Children: Temporary shelter with support services for women.
  • Family Crisis Center: 24/7 emergency shelter in Bastrop County for survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault. Call the crisis hotline for shelter, medical or legal accompaniment, safety planning, housing support, and counseling.
  • HOPE Alliance Emergency Shelter: 24/7 emergency shelter in Williamson County for women and children affected by sexual or domestic violence.
  • LifeWorks: Emergency shelter for minors experiencing homelessness, 18 or younger, still in care.
  • Rathgeber Center for Families: Temporary shelter for families experiencing homelessness.
  • SAFE Alliance: Provides shelter, legal assistance, and counseling for individuals experiencing domestic violence. They offer a safe space to discuss concerns and create a safety plan.

Severe Weather Information

Guidance on shelters and resources in the event of natural disasters or severe weather.

  • Austin Disaster Relief Network: Support with basic needs for disasters or weather emergencies like house fires, floods, or storms. 
  • Austin Resource Recovery: Essential services for community clean-up, like storm debris removal. Spanish and multilingual services available.
  • Blanco Rover Regional Recovery Team: Support for residents to recover from weather emergencies like floods, fire, and more. Spanish services available.
  • Catholic Charities of Central Texas: Disaster response/weather emergency assistance program offering financial assistance, short-term emergency housing and rental assistance, and basic needs items. Spanish services available.
  • COA Cold Weather Shelter Activation Information: Shelter for anyone seeking a warm place. Registration for shelter takes place between 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. at One Texas Center (OTC), 505 Barton Springs Rd, when shelters are activated.
  • COA Warming Centers Map: Map of locations to keep warm during regular business hours. Please call or check their respective websites for hours and confirm their status before arriving. Please note these sites are Warming Centers and NOT Warming Shelters. Sites on this map are for temporary relief and are not intended for overnight sheltering. 
  • Southside Winter Shelter (San Marcos, Hays County): The Southside Shelter opens when the temperature drops below 35 degrees for more than three hours and has 40 cots available until filled. 
  • Support for Families with Children: Hotel vouchers will be provided to families with children and unaccompanied minors seeking shelter during activation periods. The vouchers will cover the cost of lodging for a designated period, with extensions available as needed based on availability.
  • Assistive Text and Media Services: Alternative Text and Media (Alt Text Media) specializes in providing classroom materials and textbooks to students with print disabilities. To access support, email [email protected] or contact a Student Accessibility Services Advocate.

For more information and the complete list of all available resources, including homelessness resources, click here.

These resources are for the convenience of the community and do not represent sponsorship, endorsement, or approval of any agency or service. For assistance accessing resources, contact [email protected].

Discussing and addressing these needs is essential for creating an educational environment where all students can succeed. By supporting these fundamental areas, we foster a culture of care and resilience, empowering students to focus on their goals without stress from unmet needs. This calendar aims to inform faculty about these resources, allowing them to share directly with students and address these needs in their instruction.

To learn more about all twelve basic needs highlighted in the TLED Calendar, visit the TLED print wall calendar web page and explore more essential resources.

ACC is committed to supporting every student’s basic needs. We are more than an educational institution —we are a community that cares, supports, and grows together.

“Every Need. Every Student. Every Day.”