Highlander Assistance Program is focused on supporting Radford University students who have food insecurities, are homeless, at risk for becoming homeless or in transition while on campus. Radford University’s Highlander Assistance Program aims to mitigate the challenges our students face, enhance quality of life by connecting them with available resources and empowering them to succeed. We recognize the importance of addressing the needs of all students on campus and seek to support every member of the Highlander family.  A food pantry is located in Heth 215. Any Highlander is eligible to get food.  Bring your University One Card to the Office of the Dean of Students in Heth 274, Monday - Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. to receive food.

Homeless Students are those who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.

This includes students who:

• Share housing due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or similar reason;
• Live in motels, hotels, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative accommodations;
• Live in emergency or transitional shelters;
• Have a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation;
• Live in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings or substandard housing.

(Subtitle VII-B of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, reauthorized under Title X, Part C of NCLB)

If you are homeless, at risk of being homeless or know a student who is, please, see our resources and contact the Office of the Dean of Students for assistance. All correspondence with Highlaner Assistnance Program is confidential.

Support Highlander Assistance Program: 

If you would like to make a gift to the fund that supports the Highlander Pantry and other urgent student needs, you can do so by clicking this link:  The Highlander Student Emergency Fund

If you would like to donate meal swipes to students in need through the Highlander Table program, you can do so by clicking this link:  Highlander Table Donation Form

All correspondence with Highlander Assistance Program is confidential.

History of the program

The Highlander Assistance Program was created in 2016 as members of the Radford University and greater Radford community came together to discuss growing concerns of homelessness in the area. The committee consists of Radford University Administrators, faculty, students, and community members from local agencies.

In 2020, as growing needs related to food insecurity, the committee decided to no longer use the acronym as it only spoke to one aspect of the program.

In 2021, Highlander Assistance Program and the Office of the Dean of Students became a partner agency with Feeding SW Virginia and opened a food pantry on January 19, 2021.

Campus and Community Collaboration

This collaborative effort between Radford University and community partners aims to support students who are homeless or in transition while they are attending Radford University.