Dec 02, 2024 CSUCI receives $1.7 million grant to help students facing homelessness

Dec. 2, 2024 - Thanks to a $1.7 million grant from the Rapid Rehousing and Housing Security Program - part of the Basic Needs Initiative through the CSU Chancellor's Office - the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) Basic Needs program can now better support students facing homelessness.

The grant will be distributed in the amount of $400,000 annually from 2024 through 2028 with a one-time amount of $100,000 allocated to cover initial startup costs. The funding will support CSUCI's efforts to develop and enhance strategies for students facing homelessness and housing insecurity. The grant will also help CSUCI provide support the students need to continue their education and make it to graduation day.

"If you have nowhere to stay, you didn't sleep, you didn't get a shower and you didn't get something to eat, you're not going to be able to pay attention," said Vice President of Student Affairs Eboni Ford Turnbow. "Maybe you don't have a place to study once the library closes. Programs like Basic Needs help offset this burden, whether its food, emergency funds or shelter. And now our Basic Needs Program is so robust."

Homelessness among college students is a statewide problem with 246,480 homeless students enrolled in California schools in the 2022-2023 academic year. According to research conducted by the CSU, almost 11% of students faced homelessness in a 12-month period with students of color especially vulnerable. All of this is exacerbated by the high cost of housing in California.

Ford Turnbow praised CSUCI Director of Basic Needs Tanya Gonzalez and Assistant Vice President for Student Wellness Michael Gravagne with writing the grant, which will enable CSUCI's Basic Needs Program to intervene if a student is facing eviction owing to circumstances that can vary from a loss of family income, illness, or the breakup of a relationship that leaves a student without a place to live.

"We know there are people living out of their cars or couch surfing," Gonzalez said. "There are multiple people who don't reach out to us because they don't think their situation is that serious, or they're staying with a friend on campus, which is not a long-term solution."

Gonzalez said homelessness is a problem that comes up every semester. Since July, Basic Needs has provided emergency shelter for 14 people, and three emergency stays for one other individual who faced homelessness three times.

"A good chunk of this grant is going to pay for when students are facing eviction," Gonzalez explained. "This semester, for example, I had a student who reached out because the student has three kids and they needed support. They weren't able to pay their rent because they had a family crisis - the husband had lost his job."

Many of the students who contact Basic Needs are caring for children or report having other areas of insecurity beyond housing such as food and finances.

Gonzalez urges any CSUCI student in need of emergency housing to contact Basic Needs at Housing Assistance or call 805-437-2067.