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Pikes Peak State College (PPSC), located in Colorado Springs, is the largest institution of higher education in the Pikes Peak region. Offering more than 100 degree and certificate programs – from studio art to zookeeping – the college is dedicated to providing affordable, high-quality education to a diverse student body, including high school students taking college-level courses, adult learners, and military-affiliated individuals.
PPSC's mission extends beyond academics. The college recognizes that educational success is deeply connected to students’ ability to meet basic needs – such as food, housing, and transportation. That’s where Single Stop came in.
While PPSC had operated a campus food pantry since 2015, the COVID-19 pandemic created a deeper, more widespread crisis. Many students were struggling with hunger, housing insecurity, and financial instability. Some were familiar with navigating public benefit systems; others had never sought assistance before.
It became clear that the number of students in need far exceeded those accessing the pantry. Staff and faculty heard increasing stories of students skipping meals, sleeping in cars, or silently grappling with economic hardship while trying to stay in school.
Despite good intentions and available resources, many students didn’t know where to turn or how to apply for help. The stigma surrounding basic needs assistance compounded the problem. “We want to make sure that when people come in to seek resources, they aren't coming in with fear or shame. We want them to be aware that this is a safe space for them to express their needs and that they will find individuals that will take the time to sit with them one-on-one to access those resources.” Said Kandy Ruiz, Program Director of Single Stop Services at Pikes Peak Sate College.
In 2021, Pikes Peak partnered with Single Stop to address the growing crisis. Initially inspired by 211-style resource referrals, Single Stop adopted a data-informed approach: evaluating food pantry usage, expanding outreach across campuses, and providing more than just food, including hygiene products, pet supplies, and clothing.
By 2022, usage of the pantry quadrupled, from 5,000 visits annually to over 20,000. Word spread quickly, thanks to faculty referrals, student testimonials, and targeted outreach. In 2023, the college saw a record 38,000 visits, including mobile food markets that served 3,000 people in just a few hours.
Single Stop also enabled the staff to complete structured intakes to understand each student's unique situation, identify all eligible benefits, and guide them step-by-step through applications that could offer support. Students received help not just with food, but with housing referrals, utility assistance, childcare support, transportation, and academic tutoring.
The PPSC team grew to include three dedicated staff members who provided personalized, trauma-informed support. Faculty and staff were trained on how to make referrals, and partnerships were established with local organizations like Care and Share and the campus credit union.
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One student came to Single Stop, knowing he was eligible for certain benefits, but believed he couldn’t apply because he was homeless. The team helped him find housing, guided him through benefit applications, and supported him through graduation. When he finally moved into an apartment, anonymous donations from the community helped him furnish it. Today, he’s employed full-time, having successfully launched a new chapter thanks to support he once thought was out of reach.
Another student stopped by the food pantry for a meal and left with referrals for academic tutoring and access to financial aid. That initial visit set off a chain of support that allowed her to stay in school and thrive.
At Pikes Peak State College, Single Stop reshaped the student experience. By offering a compassionate, comprehensive support model, Single Stop helped create a campus where no one has to choose between their education and their basic needs.
The results speak for themselves: more students staying in school, more lives transformed, and a stronger, more connected campus community. Pikes Peak State College now serves as a national model for what’s possible when institutions invest in wraparound services.
