California Dem Proposes Bill For Students To Live In Their Cars Amid Housing Crisis
California Assemblyman Proposes Bill to Allow College Students to Live in Cars on Campus
In a recent legislative move, Democratic Assemblyman Corey Jackson of California introduced a bill aimed at providing temporary relief for college students facing homelessness by allowing them to reside in their vehicles on campus parking lots. This bill targets five California State University (CSU) campuses and 20 California Community Colleges (CCC). A staggering report from the California Legislative Analyst’s Office in 2023 highlighted that nearly half a million CCC students experienced homelessness.
“While emergency shelter in a vehicle is not ideal, it seems just a student knowing they may have a place to shelter, will go a long way to stabilizing their health and providing additional time to find a long-term housing solution,” Jackson stated during a hearing last summer.
Details of the Proposed Legislation
The bill, which passed the Assembly Higher Education committee along party lines, mandates the initiation of pilot parking programs by July 2025. These programs are designed to provide designated parking spaces for homeless students to safely live in their vehicles on campus. Jackson emphasized that this measure is a temporary solution, intended to address the immediate needs of students who are unable to afford the soaring rent prices in California.
Recent studies, including one by the Hope Center and the CCC, reveal that 19% of students experienced homelessness and 60% faced housing insecurity. The University of California at Los Angeles reported a 48% increase in student homelessness over the past decade.
Community College Concerns and a Pilot Program
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Despite the intentions behind the bill, it has faced criticism from community college representatives. Nune Garipian, policy and advocacy manager with the Community College League of California, expressed concerns that the bill could divert funds from existing housing programs that provide hotel vouchers, rental subsidies, and rehousing initiatives. “Establishing an overnight student parking program would require significant financial and administrative resources to ensure that students have a safe, clean and secure place to sleep at night,” Garipian explained, highlighting the resource constraints faced by colleges.
However, Long Beach Community College (LBCC) conducted a trial of this proposal in 2022 after identifying over 70 students sleeping in their cars. The LBCC Safe Parking Program, which cost $200,000 to launch and maintain, offered a secure overnight parking solution with access to Wi-Fi, restrooms, and campus showers. The program was a collaborative effort with Safe Parking LA and was monitored by campus police.
Political Reactions and Future Plans
Republican California Rep. Vince Fong criticized the bill, linking it to broader policy failures by the liberal government which, in his view, have exacerbated the housing crisis by restricting housing development. “Proposals to allow college students to sleep in their cars is a symptom of a housing crisis that is hurting students and everyday Californians. This is a consequence of policy failures coming from a liberal agenda that refuses to allow for the building of more housing, further worsening California’s affordability crisis,” Fong stated. He advocates for solutions that reduce bureaucratic hurdles and encourage housing development.
LBCC’s superintendent-president Mike Muñoz, who has personal experience with housing insecurity, expressed empathy for the affected students and outlined plans to provide 422 campus housing beds by 2028. However, he acknowledged that immediate solutions are necessary for those who cannot wait.
As the debate continues, the effectiveness and implications of allowing students to live in their cars on campus remain a contentious issue, reflecting broader challenges in tackling homelessness and housing insecurity among college students in California.
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