SB 568 (Portantino) Postsecondary education: student housing: College-Focused Rapid Rehousing Program. PROBLEM SUMMARY California is having a crisis in homelessness SB 568 would address the mounting crisis of among its college students. According to a homelessness among college students by es- 2019 report by the Community College tablishing housing resources within the Com- Chancellor's Office, a full 1 in 5 students munity College and CSU Chancellor’s Offices experienced an episode of homelessness and UC Office of the President and by requir- within the last 12 months. A study of ing campuses that receive funding to imple- California State University (CSU) students ment measures to maximize the financial aid found that 11% of students reported being received by homeless students and ensure homeless one or more times in the last year. linkage to community-based housing re- Not surprisingly, homelessness seriously sources. Funding allocated by the legislature impacts a student’s ability to remain in school would be shared by the three systems in pro- and be successful. The issue of student portion to their total enrollment. Colleges and homelessness is particularly acute among universities receiving funding would be re- students attending California’s community quired to: colleges, where dorm access is limited. Of the 115 community colleges in California, just 11 ➢ Partner with a local homeless service have dorms. agency to implement a college-focused rapid rehousing program. These pro- grams would provide housing identifica- BACKGROUND tion, rental assistance and intensive case California’s community colleges, California management to quickly move students State Universities (CSU) and University of from homelessness into housing coupled California (UC) campuses are recognizing that with meaningful, sustained connections to growing food and housing insecurity among post-secondary education. college students pose serious barriers to educa- tional achievement. In recognition of this chal- ➢ Facilitate access by students to available lenge, all three systems have convened local housing resources: Colleges would statewide efforts to develop strategies to ad- be required to establish a relationship with dress these serious needs. In the FY 19 state their local homeless Continuum of Care, budget, the food insecurity needs of students develop a referral mechanism into their were acknowledged by the State Legislature county’s coordinated entry system for and the Administration through a one-time $10 homeless services and train staff regarding million investment at community colleges and how to access housing assistance in their $3 million investment in CSUs and UCs. This community. investment was coupled with requirements of campuses receiving funding to address the ➢ Ensure that homeless students are re- food security of students through specific ceiving all available financial aid: Col- strategies. California, however, lacks any tar- leges would be required to review the fi- geted intervention to prevent and end home- nancial aid packages of all students partic- lessness among college students. ipating in the housing program, ensure that homeless students are receiving aid in a timely manner and adopt policies that ena ble homeless youth to maintain access to financial aid

Office of Senator Anthony J. Portantino SB 568– Fact Sheet Contact: Tara McGee – (916) 651-4025 or [email protected] Each campus that receives funding would be All Saints Church Foster Care Project required to submit an annual report, which Alliance for Children's Rights would be compiled and submitted to the legis- lature, detailing how many students received Bill Wilson Center support, the duration of support and the reten- California Alliance of Children and Family Services tion and graduation rates of program partici- California YIMBY pants. College of the Desert County of Santa Cruz Supervisor Ryan Coonerty EXISTING LAW CSU Bakersfield Under existing law, the 3 segments of public CSU Chico postsecondary education in this state are the CSU Dominguez Hills University of California, under the administra- CSU Long Beach tion of the Regents of the University of Cali- East Bay Children's Law Offices fornia, the California State University, under First Star the administration of the Trustees of the Cali- Foster Care Counts fornia State University, and the California Fullerton College Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Golden West College Community Colleges. Existing law, known as Hartnell College the Donahoe Higher Education Act, establish- Imperial Valley College es the missions and functions of these seg- Imperial Valley College EOPS ments. Imperial Valley Regional Occupational Program- Project ACE Existing law requires qualifying institutions, as Kings/Tulare Homeless Alliance defined in the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian- Los Angeles Southwest College Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program, other than Mt San Antonio College the University of California, which is request- National Association of Social Workers ed to do so, to designate a staff member who is National Center for Youth Law employed within the financial aid office, or Norco College another appropriate office or department, of the institution to serve as a Homeless and Fos- Power to Soar ter Student Liaison and to inform current and Redwood Action Community Center prospective students of the institution about Reedley College student financial aid and other assistance Riverside City College available to homeless youth and current and Santa Rosa Junior College former foster youth, as specified. School House Connection Shasta College SUPPORT Student Senate for California Community Colleges Sponsor: John Burton Advocates for Youth Swipe Out Hunger Sponsor: Cal State Student Association Ticket to Dream Sponsor: University of California Students United Friends of the Children Association Volunteers of America Walden Family

Office of Senator Anthony J. Portantino SB 568– Fact Sheet Contact: Tara McGee – (916) 651-4025 or [email protected]