California’s Initiative to Combat Housing Insecurity for College Students

Categories: College University AthleticsCollege/University NewsEducation

College students benefiting from housing support initiatives in California.

News Summary

California has launched the College Focused Rapid Rehousing (CFRR) program, aimed at addressing housing insecurity among college students. The initiative has resulted in improved student retention and graduation rates, with key findings showing that participants are more likely to remain enrolled compared to those receiving only short-term assistance. The program supports students in public higher education institutions and has allocated $19 million to help combat this issues, reflecting the urgent need for stable housing among college populations.

California has launched a successful initiative aimed at addressing housing insecurity among college students, which has led to notable improvements in student retention and graduation rates. The College Focused Rapid Rehousing (CFRR) program, initiated in 2020, provides support to students facing housing challenges across the state’s public higher education institutions, including California State Universities (CSU), California Community Colleges (CCC), and the University of California (UC). A recent study by the Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE) at CSU Long Beach highlighted the positive impacts of the program on student outcomes.

According to the analysis, CFRR participants exhibit stronger enrollment and graduation rates compared to their peers who do not participate in the program. Specifically, 27% of students involved in CFRR graduated, while another 27% secured permanent housing. Furthermore, 37% of participants found stable housing in under six months, and most lived in rented or owned apartments one year after joining the program.

The issue of housing insecurity is significant, with estimates indicating that 20% of college students face this challenge, including 14% who experience homelessness. In the 2022-23 academic year, over half of CSU financial aid recipients and 65% of CCC aid recipients reported housing insecurity, while one-quarter of CCC students and 11% of CSU students reported experiencing homelessness.

The CFRR program was funded through Assembly Bill 74, which allocated resources specifically to address housing issues affecting college students. A total of $19 million was designated for various educational systems, with $9 million for the community college system, $6.5 million for CSU, and $3.5 million for UC institutions, reflecting the differing needs of students across schools.

The CEHE study evaluated data from eight CSU campuses and two community colleges, focusing on the participation of 639 students in CFRR and encompassing 3,949 students receiving short-term assistance. The analysis revealed that historically underserved populations, including Black students and former foster youth, made up a significant portion of CFRR participants.

While the program has shown substantial impacts, challenges remain. The study indicated that 62% of participants had difficulty affording increased rent post-program, with 25% reporting missed rent payments. Additionally, one in three participants moved more than twice due to financial constraints, and one-quarter faced at least one episode of homelessness after graduation.

A major finding from the CEHE study is the enhancement of students’ academic performance and engagement in school activities. CFRR participants reported improved engagement and were more likely to remain enrolled or graduate (56%) than those who only received short-term housing assistance (b

47%

Furthermore, the long-term benefits of securing stable housing extend beyond academics. Mental health outcomes improved for CFRR participants, with reports of loneliness decreasing from 76% at intake to 63% during follow-up evaluations. Serious psychological distress also declined, dropping from nearly 50% at intake to about one-third at follow-up, although these figures still surpass the overall CSU population’s average of 20%.

The program’s impact on participants’ employment was significant as well; 70% of CFRR participants were employed six months after securing housing, an increase from 56% three months prior. Moreover, students reported an increase in feelings of resilience and preparedness to tackle personal issues, with the percentage feeling equipped rising from 33% to 52%.

California’s College Focused Rapid Rehousing program demonstrates a proactive approach to addressing the housing crisis among students, providing critical support that not only enhances academic performance but fosters overall well-being.