On Tuesday, March 14, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella) joined Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) and the Student HOMES Coalition, with representation from students across California, to announce AB 1630 (E. Garcia), the Student Housing Crisis Act. The legislation aims to increase access to affordable student housing by creating incentives and streamlining the development process for projects near higher education institutions.
“Access to affordable student housing should not be a barrier for students pursuing their education. We are honored to partner with young leaders from across our state on this student-led legislative initiative to alleviate student housing insecurity,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, who believes addressing the student housing shortfall is critical to expanding higher education opportunities for all.
“Students struggling to meet their basic needs face great difficulty achieving their true potential. By ensuring that California students can afford a roof over their heads, we hope to prevent homelessness while allowing our students to focus on their studies and building their dreams.”
AB 1630 is co-sponsored by the Student HOMES Coalition, UC Student Association (UCSA), Student Senate for California Community Colleges (SSCCC), and GENup.
Information provided by the student coalition states that UCs only have beds for 35% of their enrolled students, CSUs have beds for 14% of students, and only 12 out of 116 community colleges in California provide housing. These housing limitations require a majority of students to live off campus. Many of California’s largest universities are also located in high-cost housing markets. As a result, far too many students find themselves in substandard living conditions, often far from campus, or at risk of homelessness.
