Should California Permit Students to Reside in Their Vehicles? A State Lawmaker Believes It's a Good Idea.
The Democratic proposal emerges as the party aims to prioritize cost-of-living concerns.
TroibNews 
SACRAMENTO, California — A progressive Democratic lawmaker is proposing a stark last-resort solution for California's college students grappling with a severe housing crisis: allowing them to sleep in their cars.
While several legislative proposals this year aim to fund student or faculty housing and relax building regulations, these solutions will come too late for current students struggling to make ends meet. Approximately one in four California community college students has experienced homelessness in the past year, intensifying pressure on the state's Democratic supermajority to tackle affordability issues.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat from Southern California with a doctorate in social work, insists that while lawmakers work on long-term solutions, immediate measures are necessary for what he describes as a "worst case scenario." His proposal, which passed its first committee last month, would require community colleges and the California State University system to create an overnight parking program for students.
Jackson highlights that without an official, on-campus parking program, students often resort to sleeping in their cars off-campus, where they might not be welcome.
Supporters emphasize that the measure is not meant to serve as a permanent fix to the affordability crisis, but the reality is grim, with California rents exceeding the national average by over 30 percent.
“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” Jackson remarked during a recent hearing.
Both the California State University and community college systems have expressed opposition to Jackson’s initiative, citing inadequate funding and the absence of a long-term housing strategy. Jackson contends that their stance reflects a lack of moral responsibility. He has offered to waive liability and postpone implementation until funding is secured, but the colleges remain resistant.
“It’s just a difference of opinion,” Jackson noted. “I believe that we are in a housing crisis. We are in a homelessness crisis, and so every single agency needs to do their part to help with the issue.”
Last year, 4,000 students within the California State University system were on a housing waitlist. Most community college districts do not provide student housing, and those that do often have waitlists.
Data on how long students wait for housing assistance is not tracked by the state, leaving students vulnerable during this critical period.
“We're trying to ensure that there is a way for our students to feel safe in these difficult moments,” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, which supports the bill.
A successful pilot program at Long Beach Community College, which serves nearly 40,000 students and currently lacks student housing, emerged after officials discovered in 2021 that over 70 students were living in their cars. In response, the college established a safe-parking pilot program, reportedly the first of its kind in the region.
Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz shared his personal experience with housing insecurity as a single father in college, even sleeping in his car at times.
“I know what that feels like,” Muñoz shared. “For us it was looking at the data in that moment and saying, ‘Hey, we know 70 students with real names and ID numbers that are sleeping in their cars.’”
The college invested $200,000 per year to initiate the program, first launching it at its trade-tech site before moving to a main campus parking structure, visible from campus police headquarters. Students involved in the program have access to restrooms, showers, and wireless internet. Of the 34 students who utilized the program during the 2023-24 school year, 22 remained by fall, with half qualifying for financial aid and all but four aged over 25.
Muñoz recounted initial security concerns and a “sky is falling” mentality among some campus officials when he proposed the idea, fearing repercussions from allowing students to sleep on campus.
“None of those things happened,” he stated.
Initially, a separate security detail oversaw the program, but campus police now manage it, as officials realized that no significant incidents requiring increased security ever occurred, according to Muñoz. He acknowledged uncertainty about how a statewide implementation of Long Beach’s program would succeed, as the ability to secure student spaces varies by campus.
The measure has passed its first hurdle in the Assembly Higher Education committee on a party-line vote. However, similar bills have previously failed to make it to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, including a more limited proposal from Jackson last year that the Senate Appropriations Committee blocked due to estimated costs in the tens of millions. Another Democratic measure aimed at permitting students to sleep in campus parking lots stalled in 2019.
The current bill also faces skepticism from members of Jackson’s own party. During the March committee hearing, some Democrats raised concerns about its feasibility and whether students would be charged for using the program. Assemblymember Darshana Patel, a Democrat from San Diego, expressed privacy concerns regarding the “constant surveillance” needed to ensure student safety while sleeping in their cars.
Nune Garipian, policy and advocacy manager with the Community College League of California, informed lawmakers that colleges are already offering various temporary housing services, such as access to rapid rehousing programs, hotel vouchers, rental subsidies, and partnerships with local nonprofits that have a solid history of community service. Garipian cautioned that the new bill could unintentionally siphon funds away from these established programs.
“Establishing an overnight student parking program would require significant financial and administrative resources to ensure that students have a safe, clean, and secure place to sleep at night,” Garipian stated. “Our colleges unfortunately just do not have these resources available.”
Hernandez, representing the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, noted that he has spoken to many students facing unstable housing situations, such as couch surfing, temporary arrangements, or sleeping in cars. While he acknowledges concerns regarding liability, safety, and funding, he emphasizes that the bill does not "create the problem" of housing insecurity.
“It’s just basically addressing the problem that is currently happening,” Hernandez clarified.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
While several legislative proposals this year aim to fund student or faculty housing and relax building regulations, these solutions will come too late for current students struggling to make ends meet. Approximately one in four California community college students has experienced homelessness in the past year, intensifying pressure on the state's Democratic supermajority to tackle affordability issues.
Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat from Southern California with a doctorate in social work, insists that while lawmakers work on long-term solutions, immediate measures are necessary for what he describes as a "worst case scenario." His proposal, which passed its first committee last month, would require community colleges and the California State University system to create an overnight parking program for students.
Jackson highlights that without an official, on-campus parking program, students often resort to sleeping in their cars off-campus, where they might not be welcome.
Supporters emphasize that the measure is not meant to serve as a permanent fix to the affordability crisis, but the reality is grim, with California rents exceeding the national average by over 30 percent.
“This just deals with the harsh realities that we find ourselves in,” Jackson remarked during a recent hearing.
Both the California State University and community college systems have expressed opposition to Jackson’s initiative, citing inadequate funding and the absence of a long-term housing strategy. Jackson contends that their stance reflects a lack of moral responsibility. He has offered to waive liability and postpone implementation until funding is secured, but the colleges remain resistant.
“It’s just a difference of opinion,” Jackson noted. “I believe that we are in a housing crisis. We are in a homelessness crisis, and so every single agency needs to do their part to help with the issue.”
Last year, 4,000 students within the California State University system were on a housing waitlist. Most community college districts do not provide student housing, and those that do often have waitlists.
Data on how long students wait for housing assistance is not tracked by the state, leaving students vulnerable during this critical period.
“We're trying to ensure that there is a way for our students to feel safe in these difficult moments,” said Ivan Hernandez, president of the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, which supports the bill.
A successful pilot program at Long Beach Community College, which serves nearly 40,000 students and currently lacks student housing, emerged after officials discovered in 2021 that over 70 students were living in their cars. In response, the college established a safe-parking pilot program, reportedly the first of its kind in the region.
Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz shared his personal experience with housing insecurity as a single father in college, even sleeping in his car at times.
“I know what that feels like,” Muñoz shared. “For us it was looking at the data in that moment and saying, ‘Hey, we know 70 students with real names and ID numbers that are sleeping in their cars.’”
The college invested $200,000 per year to initiate the program, first launching it at its trade-tech site before moving to a main campus parking structure, visible from campus police headquarters. Students involved in the program have access to restrooms, showers, and wireless internet. Of the 34 students who utilized the program during the 2023-24 school year, 22 remained by fall, with half qualifying for financial aid and all but four aged over 25.
Muñoz recounted initial security concerns and a “sky is falling” mentality among some campus officials when he proposed the idea, fearing repercussions from allowing students to sleep on campus.
“None of those things happened,” he stated.
Initially, a separate security detail oversaw the program, but campus police now manage it, as officials realized that no significant incidents requiring increased security ever occurred, according to Muñoz. He acknowledged uncertainty about how a statewide implementation of Long Beach’s program would succeed, as the ability to secure student spaces varies by campus.
The measure has passed its first hurdle in the Assembly Higher Education committee on a party-line vote. However, similar bills have previously failed to make it to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk, including a more limited proposal from Jackson last year that the Senate Appropriations Committee blocked due to estimated costs in the tens of millions. Another Democratic measure aimed at permitting students to sleep in campus parking lots stalled in 2019.
The current bill also faces skepticism from members of Jackson’s own party. During the March committee hearing, some Democrats raised concerns about its feasibility and whether students would be charged for using the program. Assemblymember Darshana Patel, a Democrat from San Diego, expressed privacy concerns regarding the “constant surveillance” needed to ensure student safety while sleeping in their cars.
Nune Garipian, policy and advocacy manager with the Community College League of California, informed lawmakers that colleges are already offering various temporary housing services, such as access to rapid rehousing programs, hotel vouchers, rental subsidies, and partnerships with local nonprofits that have a solid history of community service. Garipian cautioned that the new bill could unintentionally siphon funds away from these established programs.
“Establishing an overnight student parking program would require significant financial and administrative resources to ensure that students have a safe, clean, and secure place to sleep at night,” Garipian stated. “Our colleges unfortunately just do not have these resources available.”
Hernandez, representing the Student Senate for California Community Colleges, noted that he has spoken to many students facing unstable housing situations, such as couch surfing, temporary arrangements, or sleeping in cars. While he acknowledges concerns regarding liability, safety, and funding, he emphasizes that the bill does not "create the problem" of housing insecurity.
“It’s just basically addressing the problem that is currently happening,” Hernandez clarified.
Alejandro Jose Martinez for TROIB News
