RALEIGH, N.C. — While heading back to campus is usually an exciting time for college students, it can be a difficult time for those who are balancing more than their studies. 

Research done by a professor at North Carolina State University revealed that 15% of students at the university experienced some form of homelessness since the COVID-19 pandemic began. 

Etienne Phillips fell into that category. 

Spectrum News 1 first spoke with Phillips, who is a junior at N.C. State University, in January 2022. 

It was Phillips' first year as a member of the Wolfpack community. He transfered to the university from Guilford College. In 2020-2021, Phillips took the academic year off in order to figure out his living situation. 

At the time, Phillips was sleeping on couches of friends and family after finding himself homeless. 

He earned a scholarship to N.C. State and started classes last fall. While it was a relief for the future mathematician, the next obstacle came on how he would afford rent and a hot meal. Phillips received need-based grants and was approved for SNAP benefits. While that was just enough to make ends meet, he also worked as a math tutor as a way to earn an income. 

"When I first started at N.C. State, I was working 20 hours a week and that was terrible. I was so pulled in every which direction last year, working, doing projects, studying, I wasn't able to focus as much on learning the stuff I need to learn as much as I like," Phillips said. 

The math major's dedication was recognized when he was awarded merit-based scholarships for the fall 2022 semester. 

"I have more scholarships than I did last year. I have enough to pay for food and rent from those scholarships, so I am no longer sort of panicking," Phillips said. 

Since Phillips does not have a car, his location of where he is living is important in being able to get to class. Last semester he relied on the GoTriangle buses in order to get to campus and the grocery store. Days before his last apartment lease was up, he found an open bedroom on Facebook Marketplace that is closer to campus and has access to the Wolfline university shuttle. He is also walking distance to the grocery store. 

"Before I moved here, I was trying to figure out budgeting and how much it was going to cost to get to school every day," Phillips said. 

Phillips' goal this school year is to save money for the future and put his education first. 

"I will not be working as much as I was eight months ago, but I will do some kind of work. I've applied to several jobs," Phillips said. 

He is hoping to get a job as a teaching assistant or in research for the university. 

"I'm really happy that I'll be able to focus on what is most important to me, going to class, learning things and making progress towards my degree and such," Phillips said. 

For college students in Wake County facing housing insecurity, there are resources to help. The HOST Home program is launching this semester. HOST stands for Housing Options For Students Today. The program supports students who are homeless and places them into safe homes with neighboring partners in the community. 

HOST is holding an open house this Tuesday, Aug. 23 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 1801 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh.