A California community college announced a program addressing homelessness on campus, allowing students to feel “secure” while sleeping in their vehicles.
Long Beach City College unveiled the pilot program, called the Safe Parking Program, to offer students a safe place to “reside” in their cars overnight, according to a statement from the college on Monday. This pilot program is the only known program of its kind in the region at a community college, the statement added.
“Our goal for this program is that it will serve as a pathway to housing stability for our students,” said Uduak-Joe Ntuk, the president of the LBCC Board of Trustees. “These students would otherwise have to be worrying nightly about their vehicles being broken into, trying not to be seen or bothered, and not having the police called on them, all while keeping up with their coursework.”
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As part of the program, students who don’t have a suitable living option are able to sleep in a “secured” parking garage on campus. This will be offered to the students every night of the week between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., according to the statement from the college.
Dr. Mike Munoz, the interim superintendent for LBCC, said there are nearly 70 students who end up sleeping in their vehicles every night. “Quite possibly more,” he added.
While staying overnight in their vehicles, students will have access to restrooms, showers, and Wi-Fi, according to the college’s statement.
Eligible LBCC students must be independent with no spouses, partners, or children sleeping in the vehicle with them, according to the college, which added that service and emotional support animals are allowed to stay with the students if proper documentation is provided.
Students participating in the pilot program would also be case managed by LBCC staff to find “more long-term and stable housing,” the college said.
A security firm has been contracted to keep watch for the duration of the pilot program through June 30, 2022, the college added. Safe Parking LA will serve as a consultant to the College’s Basic Needs Program, which is overseeing the effort, “providing technical assistance and training for the first three months,” the college said.
The University of California Los Angeles released a study in November 2020 which showed that 1-in-5 California Community College students were experiencing homelessness. Additionally, one out of 10 from California State University and one in 20 from the University of California also dealt with homelessness, according to the website.
“If we can help to keep our students safe so they can better focus on their student responsibilities, this program is absolutely worth pursuing,” Munoz added.
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Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Nov. 3 that local governments in the state have the option to apply to the Encampment Resolution Grant Program, earning a piece of the $50 million in funds from the grant. The grant is part of a bigger $12 billion homeless package signed by Newsom that aims to address the seriousness of homeless encampments in the state.
The Washington Examiner reached out to Long Beach City College for a statement but did not receive a response.
