A California university is allowing homeless students to sleep in their cars on campus and providing them with showers and Wi-Fi, but the university doesn't consider it housing.
Long Beach City College Safe Parking Program Providing “safety” Overnight parking from 10pm to 7am for students living in their cars in the parking lot next to the university's Campus Safety Building.
Perks include access to restrooms, morning showers, Wi-Fi, referrals to long-term housing, and financial assistance with driver's licenses, registrations and insurance.
“We don't think of providing a safe parking spot for students as providing them with housing,” said Justin Mendez, basic needs program coordinator at Long Beach City College, which started the initiative. He told the nonprofit news media CalMatters..
This is a temporary solution until students secure long-term housing.
Housing is a major problem in California, with three in five community college students being “housing unstable” and one in four being homeless. According to a report by the California Association of Community Colleges, From September 2023.
Housing insecurity can include being unable to pay rent or utility bills and having to move frequently.
Students and advocates at other California schools have been pushing for similar efforts elsewhere.
“I don't need or want bathrooms, showers or security, and I've never asked for them,” Brad Butterfield, a California State Polytechnic University student living in a camper, told CalMatters.
“All we need is a place to park overnight.”
A bill to replicate Long Beach City College's safe parking program failed to pass, according to CalMatters.
