Homeless San Jose State College college students are struggling to seek out housing — and fear the place they’re going to sleep at evening as they stress over college work and passing grades.
The Scholar Homeless Alliance, which advocates for unhoused SJSU college students, is pushing to broaden the variety of emergency beds accessible and for seven secure parking areas in garages for these residing of their automobiles. However the effort has been gradual because the alliance has met with its companions solely as soon as this college yr, Scholar Homeless Alliance President Jaylin Flores mentioned. The group is working with Related College students on a decision to carry college leaders extra accountable for offering meals and housing help for unhoused college students. If progress isn’t made, she mentioned the group could be a part of with different organizations to rally subsequent semester.
“I, myself, also struggle with making ends meet,” Flores informed San José Highlight. “I receive (financial aid), but it’s still not enough. A lot of students don’t have financial support from their families. It puts up a big barrier for students when they’re trying to get their education. If they are unhoused … a lot of these students might feel ashamed. They might feel embarrassed to reach out and ask for help. We’re here to push for more resources for these students … so there are sufficient resources to help them.”
Flores mentioned college leaders must take this case severely.
“We’re going to keep fighting,” she mentioned.
Kednel Jean, case administration director for SJSU Cares, mentioned college students who ask for assist could have a secure place to sleep. SJSU Cares assists college students going through financial disaster by offering assist and referrals for meals, housing and emergency help.
“Currently, we do not advertise the number of available beds, as it may create a false impression to students that we will run out of bed spaces,” he informed San José Highlight. “We’ve developed solutions that enable us to rapidly add on- and off-campus beds if a student’s needs exceed the current reserve of 12 on-campus beds.”
The Scholar Homeless Alliance efficiently fought for these beds and beforehand requested for secure parking areas.
“If a student prefers to sleep in their car over staying in university housing or a hotel, they will be referred to established San Jose city supportive parking programs that meet their needs,” Jean mentioned.
A March SJSU Cares survey confirmed about 2% of practically 700 respondents lacked a “fixed, regular, adequate nighttime residence” inside the previous yr for a minimum of one evening, Jean mentioned. In response to SJSU Care’s 2023-24 annual report, SJSU Cares acquired 385 requests or referrals for college kids requiring emergency housing in 2021-22. The quantity decreased to 345 in 2022-23, and to 315 in 2023-24.
Scholar Hannah Perez, who will function Scholar Homeless Alliance president subsequent semester, mentioned it’s doubtless extra college students face homelessness than are being reported.
“When everyone leaves campus there are students that don’t have a place to go,” she informed San José Highlight. “Not everyone is going to answer a survey and get the resources they need.”
Jean mentioned 30 college students acquired a spot to sleep by way of the on-campus emergency mattress program within the 2023-24 tutorial yr, with a median keep of 20 nights, and 42 college students acquired emergency housing grants. SJSU Cares positioned 30 college students within the fast rehousing program in 2023-24, greater than double the 14 college students positioned in 2022-23.
The SJSU Scholar Homeless Alliance advocates for college kids to make use of emergency beds with none stress to take out scholar loans in April 2022. (San José Highlight file picture)
Scholar Hannah Perez, who will function Scholar Homeless Alliance president subsequent semester, mentioned it’s doubtless extra college students face homelessness than are being reported.
“When everyone leaves campus there are students that don’t have a place to go,” she informed San José Highlight. “Not everyone is going to answer a survey and get the resources they need.”
Jean mentioned 30 college students acquired a spot to sleep by way of the on-campus emergency mattress program within the 2023-24 tutorial yr, with a median keep of 20 nights, and 42 college students acquired emergency housing grants. SJSU Cares positioned 30 college students within the fast rehousing program in 2023-24, greater than double the 14 college students positioned in 2022-23.
Though SJSU Cares shows indicators on campus and social media, Flores mentioned it ought to promote emergency beds with banners in excessive site visitors areas saying, “Are you housing insecure? We have beds available,” slightly than “a little poster on a pinboard at the back of the building.”
With state assist from a better training scholar housing grant, Jean mentioned the college provided 124 below-market-rate scholar beds in its new Spartan Village this fall and plans to broaden capability to 535 by spring 2026.
Jean mentioned though these kind of housing help could make a serious distinction, housing insecurity stays a severe situation for San Jose State College college students. One of many main challenges is the restricted availability of inexpensive off-campus housing in a high-cost space like San Jose, she mentioned.
“It’s important to recognize that addressing housing insecurity requires collaboration, not just from SJSU Cares but also from the broader community,” Jean mentioned. “Through these combined efforts, we’re making progress, but we know there is still more work to be done to ensure that every student at SJSU has access to stable and affordable housing.”
Editor’s Observe: A earlier model of this story solely had fast rehousing placement numbers for 2022-23.
This story initially appeared in San José Highlight.
