California college students call on lawmakers to combat student housing crisis

Spartan Village on the Paseo, a San Jose State University student housing tower on South Market Street near San Carlos Street, concept. In California, tens of thousands of college students don’t have a permanent home, and many others struggle to afford sky-high rents while working toward their degrees. Students from across the state are now calling on lawmakers to confront a deepening student housing crisis by making it easier to build campus housing and boosting tenant protections.

“I currently live in an off-campus apartment that costs me more than half my yearly income,” David Ramirez, a UCLA student and an executive officer of the UC Student Association, said at a news conference in Sacramento on Monday. “The options that are available to begin with in Westwood are simply unaffordable. But I also can’t afford to commute three hours every single day from the San Fernando Valley to go to class.

A widespread campus housing shortage has long forced California students into competition for pricey off-campus options, driving up rents and fueling concerns about overcrowded neighborhoods and gentrification.

“Housing insecurity undermines academic performance, lowers class attendance and increases dropout rates,” said Kate Rodgers, a UCLA student and director of policy with Generation Up, a student-led social justice group based in California. “It is clearly not enough to enact legislation to get students into the lecture hall, but we must ensure they also have the resources to stay there. And that starts with affordable housing.

It’s still unclear whether the bills have enough support to pass, but the rising costs of going to college have garnered increasing attention from politicians in California and across the country.

Education Education Latest News, Education Education Headlines

Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.

Middle school student viciously attacked by classmate in California, police sayA middle school student in California might face misdemeanor assault and battery charges after video allegedly shows her attacking another student.
Source: CBS21NEWS - 🏆 304. / 63 Read more »

FAFSA delays prompt California lawmakers to extend deadline for student financial aid applicationsThe California Legislature has voted to give prospective college students more time to apply for financial aid
Source: sdut - 🏆 5. / 95 Read more »

FAFSA delays prompt California lawmakers to extend deadline for student financial aid applicationsThe California Legislature has voted to give prospective college students more time to apply for financial aid. The state Senate on Thursday gave final approval to a bill that extends the application deadline to May 2. The extension is a response to delays with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly known as FAFSA.
Source: AP - 🏆 728. / 51 Read more »

California teacher's sexting turned into yearslong sexual abuse of student: policeStacey Michelle Walker, 40, faces 17 felonies for a yearslong relationship that began when her student was 15 in 2017, and carried on until the student turned 18, San Diego Police said.
Source: FoxNews - 🏆 9. / 87 Read more »

California extends student financial aid deadlineA financial aid glitch prevented students whose parents lacked Social Security numbers from completing their federal applications.
Source: CalMatters - 🏆 261. / 63 Read more »

California extends student financial aid deadlineIn this episode, we talk about what current, past and future students need to know about paying for college.
Source: CBS8 - 🏆 335. / 59 Read more »