September 18, 2024—Cal Matters reporter Briana Mendez-Padilla spoke with Public Advocates’ Senior Staff Attorney Jetaun Stevens about the struggle community college students face accessing basic needs and housing while also balancing schedules, classes and other activities, and the need for legislators to include students as coalition partners when they create bills in order to uplift student stories, build power and pressure, and pass policies students desperately need today.

According to a recent report 3 out of 5 community college students struggle with housing insecurity. Legislators like Corey Jackson have worked in bills like this year’s AB 1818 that would have allowed for students living in their cars to use campus lots for safety and security.  While not a long term solution, the bill could have provided students facing homelessness with options but strong opposition arguing risk and liability eventually prevailed. Stevens argues that progressive policies can take multiple effects but need stories and powerful diverse coalitions to create impact and pressure.

“Oftentimes it does take [bills] that are somewhat controversial quite a few times before they make it across the finish line,” Stevens said.

Read Brianna’s story to learn more about student housing struggles across the state.