Despite California’s generous financial aid programs, Kevin Cook from the Public Policy Institute of California said that due to the high cost of living in the state, trying to house students is an increasingly expensive task.
The average housing cost for independent students ranges from $1,400 to $1,520 per month, according to the California Student Aid Commission’s 2023 Food and Housing Survey, which surveyed students who applied for financial aid for the 2022-23 academic year. The same survey found that 53% of student respondents experienced housing insecurity.
A separate 2020 study by the Center for the Transformation of Schools at UCLA found that about 1 in 5 community college students, 1 in 10 Cal State students, and 1 in 20 UC students experience homelessness. Although the Legislative Analyst’s Office warns of limitations on both of these surveys, it does point out the noteworthiness of the number of students experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness.
Read the full article here.