A state bill that could establish an overnight parking program for homeless students enrolled in California Community College seems unlikely to pass a legislative session that ends Friday.
The bill raised by the convention, Corey A. Jackson (D-Perris), was “submitted” by the Senate Appropriations Committee last month, meaning it did not advance to the Senate.
The bill is intended to address the large number of students living in cars and RVs due to the high housing costs in California.
Jackson’s bill aims to create a safe, overnight parking plan and designated bathroom and shower facilities in the state’s community college system, which consists of 73 districts serving two million students each year.
Congress members said at a hearing this year that the “harsh reality” of homelessness has damaged students’ efforts to get education.
When housing certificates or other types of shelter are not available, he describes the proposed safe parking plan as the “last resort”.
“The last thing we want to do is to worry students all day long, ‘Where I want to sleep?’…when we want them to be safe.”
A 2023 survey funded by California Community College found that one in four students reported homelessness experiences, up from 19% in 2019.
Drilled on this number, 9% of respondents identified themselves as homeless, while 15% experienced living conditions related to homelessness, such as temporarily sleeping on the sofa of an acquaintance or family member.
SFGATE.com said critics of the Jackson Act cited concerns about the cost and feasibility of running a safe parking plan, and estimated that if each district votes for adoption or implementation of a plan, each community college district is estimated to cost $550,000 to $700,000, or $40 million to $50 million statewide.
The Los Angeles Community College District is one of many areas that oppose AB 90, and similar bills filed in previous years.
Steve Veres, a member of the Los Angeles Community College district board, said the district opposes such bills because it would rather connect students to providers who can provide housing.
“We won’t let them park in the parking lot, we’ll give them a room,” Veres said, adding that every student who requests emergency housing will get it.
Wells said the region allocates between $700,000 and $1 million a year for homeless-related services, but that is not always entirely spent. He said that in recent years, about 300-400 students have taken advantage of the area’s homelessness-related programs each year.
Fres said the Los Angeles Community College District is also focused on building housing.
Some community colleges, including Long Beach City College, Safe parking plans have been provided. According to the college’s website, Long Beach was launched as a pilot program in 2021, providing safe parking for vehicles. Long-term housing assistance is also provided for internet services, showers and referrals.
In recent years, cities and counties have turned to safe parking programs to accommodate the state’s rising homeless population and provide temporary alternatives to affordable housing for individuals and families.
Early adopter Santa Barbara launched a safe parking program decades ago to connect homeless people with services and housing.
According to its website, secure parking is located in a lot that began in 2017 and connects people to lots across the region, and more than 2,500 vehicles have been allowed to park securely.
