This month, John Burton Advocates for Youth (JBAY) is delighted to share that our work to assist college students experiencing homelessness and housing security was included in The Guardian, an independent, global news organization.
The April 2nd feature-length piece investigated college student homelessness in California, an issue that JBAY is working hard to address. It profiles several students experiencing homeless, including Leeann, a 21-year-old nursing student who became homeless after reducing her work hours due to the demands of nursing school.
In the article, Leeann explains that college students experience homelessness, even if they aren’t the image that people may have. “Homelessness has so many different faces to it,” Leeann said. “Someone sitting next to you, just because they look clean, and all that, doesn’t mean they’re not experiencing it.”
Students like Leeann are getting help thanks to Assembly Bill 74, which allocated $19 million annually to the state’s three public post-secondary institutions for housing. JBAY sponsored AB 74, successfully advocated for its passage and supported implementation of the law by providing technical assistance to California’s post-secondary systems.
This critically needed funding is now available at 14 community colleges, 8 California State University campuses and all ten University of California campuses. Together, these campuses have assisted over 2,000 students.
But as The Guardian article reports, it’s not enough. At Long Beach Community College, “1,200 students requested housing support from the school because of struggles to pay rent or keep up with bills, and 225 students were identified as “literally homeless.””
In addition to funding for housing, JBAY advocated in 2021 for $30 million in annual funding for student basic needs centers, which provide students in need with groceries and other necessities. JBAY Education Manager, Linda Ramos leads JBAYs work to expand access to basic needs centers and recently led a web seminar on how to utilize trauma-informed principles.
Director of Education Debbie Raucher is featured in The Guardian article and is glad that the needs of students are receiving the attention they deserve. “These college students are working so hard and are close to making it. With housing assistance, they can finish their degree and forever change their economic trajectory.”
Click here for the full article in The Guardian and visit our website to learn more about our work to improve post-secondary access and success.