A welcome pit stop: the US college using parking lots to help unhoused students
2 days ago
- #higher-education
- #student-homelessness
- #housing-insecurity
- Edgar Rosales Jr., a student at Long Beach City College (LBCC), lived in his car for over a year, utilizing the college's Safe Parking Program.
- The Safe Parking Program provides students with a secure place to sleep, access to showers, and basic amenities, significantly improving their living conditions.
- Rosales' experience highlights the mental and physical toll of homelessness, including lack of sleep, hygiene issues, and social isolation.
- 48% of U.S. college students face housing insecurity, with 14% experiencing homelessness, according to a Temple University report.
- Colleges are increasingly addressing student homelessness through innovative programs like safe parking, temporary housing, and partnerships with hotels or alumni.
- LBCC's Safe Parking Program, funded initially with pandemic relief money, offers security, wifi, and community support, helping students like Rosales stay enrolled.
- Mike Muñoz, LBCC's president, experienced homelessness as a student and advocates for programs that support students' basic needs to improve academic success.
- Research shows housing insecurity negatively impacts grades, attendance, and degree completion, underscoring the need for institutional support.
- Rosales eventually secured stable housing through a rapid rehousing program, marking a significant turning point in his life and education.
- Despite progress, many colleges still lack comprehensive support systems, relying on external resources rather than addressing housing insecurity directly.