WHEREAS, Housing insecurity continues to affect California Community College students and presents a barrier to academic persistence, engagement, and completion, as evidenced by rising participation in the California Community Colleges Homeless and Housing Insecurity Program (HHIP), which increased from 960 students served in 2020 to 2,356 in 2024, and by the lower average course success rate of 63% for HHIP participants compared to 73% systemwide, reflecting the severe financial and housing instability challenges these students face; (1)
WHEREAS, Student housing insecurity is influenced by factors such as rising housing costs, limited affordable housing near campuses, lack of familiarity with tenant rights, and difficulty navigating housing-related systems and resources;
WHEREAS, A California Attorney General lawsuit against a landlord operating over 22,000 rental units across California — including in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, where large populations of community college students reside — alleges ongoing habitability violations, deceptive lease terms, discrimination against voucher holders, unlawful rent increases, and improper evictions, highlighting systemic housing conditions that place community college students at heightened risk of unsafe, unstable, and unaffordable housing (2);
WHEREAS, While many community colleges provide basic needs support services, there is limited formal academic instruction in housing literacy, tenant rights, and habitability standards and only a small number of community colleges — estimated at 1–3 offering direct urban planning–related programs and 5–8 offering social justice programs with an urban focus — provide pathways that address planning and equity, yet few establish educational frameworks that equip students with the knowledge and preventative tools necessary to combat homelessness and housing insecurity (3); Now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges recommend that California Community Colleges explore the development of housing education and tenant rights curriculum to support student success and housing stability;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage colleges and districts to consider creating housing-focused academic pathways, certificates, or areas of study that provide students with education in housing literacy, tenant rights, habitability standards, and housing advocacy;
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges support the examination of potential workforce and career pathways connected to housing education, including careers in tenant advocacy, housing services, social services, public policy, and related fields; and
RESOLVED, That the Student Senate for California Community Colleges encourage collaboration among colleges, districts, and relevant partners to assess feasibility, student interest, and best practices for implementing housing education pathways within the California Community Colleges system.
Citations:
[3] California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Alphabetic Listing of Community Colleges.