Unstable housing, homelessness affect many college students. Will this help in Fresno?
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Fresno City College is one of 14 community colleges that will receive part of a $9 million state grant to tackle homelessness, according to a news release from the California Community College system.
The College Homeless and Housing Insecure Pilot program is funded through the 2019-2020 state budget to provide rapid rehousing and shelter services to students.
Fresno City College will receive $700,000 for three years and will have to find a way to sustain the funding when the three-year period is over, according to the CCC Chancellor’s Office.
The college will work with the city and county to see how the funds can best be used, according to an email from the chancellor’s office.
Fresno City President Carole Goldsmith said she wants to work alongside community members to create a sustainable plan.
“Everyone’s input will be important when we begin working on this grant-funded project,” she said in a statement to The Bee. “We will be contacting internal and external partners for their input, suggestions, ideas and specific actions.”
Homeless students in community college
A 2019 study of 40,000 California Community College students found that 7 out of 10 experienced housing or food insecurity during the previous year. In the study, conducted by the Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University, 19% of respondents said they were homeless at one point during the year.
Officials with the pilot program chose at least one college from each of the California Community College’s seven regions, the news release said. They also looked at the availability of low-income housing in the area and the percentage of student veterans, foster youth, students with disabilities and Pell grant receivers.
The thirteen other colleges chosen are Antelope Valley College, Barstow College, Butte College, Cerritos College, College of the Redwoods, Gavilan College, Imperial Valley College, Long Beach City College, Los Angeles Southwest College, San Diego City College, Riverside College, Victor Valley College and Modesto College.