March 29, 2023
Mayor Rex Richardson
411 W Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
Re: Support for the Long Beach Housing Promise
Honorable Mayor Richardson,
I am writing on behalf of Long Beach City College (LBCC) to express our support for the goals of the Long Beach Housing Promise , to express our commitment to work together with the City to meet the housing needs of students, workers and families, and to share the experience and struggles our students face. LBCC serves 34,550 students from Long Beach, Lakewood, Signal Hill and Avalon many of which are experiencing housing insecurity and even homelessness. In support of the housing needs of our students, in January LBCC submitted a student housing proposal to the state to fund construction of a 4 -Story 421 bed low income student housing facility at our Liberal Arts Campus. This effort is in recognition of the tremendous needs of our students, and our commitment to be a part of the housing solution.
In 2020 LBC C conducted a feasibility survey to determine the need for student housing and we identified demand for 1,275 beds of housing from students that would want to live on campus or that need to have housing due to housing insecurity and high rental costs in the local market. In Fall 2020 LBCC conducted a survey of students that found that 16% of students were experiencing housing insecurity. For our current student population that would be approximately 4 ,000 students. The survey also found that housing insecur ity among students was disproportional, with a greater proportion of LBCC’s students of color reporting housing and food insecurity. Of these students, Black and African American students reported the greatest need.
In addition to these findings, 53% of s tudents reported a loss of income and 56% reported needing additional financial support. Once again, the College’s Black/African American students expressed a need for additional financial support more than any other ethnic population. This is significant due to the fact that housing insecurity and financial need go hand-in-hand.
The aforementioned feasibility study conducted by LBCC found that the average housing -challenged (housing insecure or homeless) student had an average income of $680. With the average rent in Long Beach at approximately $1,600, more than twice their monthly income, these vulnerable stu dents are faced with a seemingly insurmountable barrier to stable and affordable housing. The study also highlighted other co-morbid factors of housing insecurity, with 65% of students surveyed reporting they did not have a quiet study space and 33% lacking reliable internet access. While 80% of housing-challenged students surveyed identified transferring to a 4-year institution as a goal, 72% of housing insecure and 50% of homeless students stated that they would change their status to fulltime students if LBCC student housing was available.
By providing low-income students with affordable housing, it would not only be meeting their immediate basic needs, but also enabling them to continue and complete their education. The long - term impact of obtaining a degree and transferring cannot be understated for these students. By ensuring that vulnerable students are able to complete their education and build a strong foundation for life-long stability, Long Beach City College will be investing in the future of not only its students, but of the City of Long Beach as a whole.
Sin
cerely,
Mi
ke Muñoz, Ed.D
Superintendent-President
Long Beach Community College District
April 4, 2023
Mayor Rex Richardson
City Hall Office
Civic Centre Plaza
411 W. Ocean Blvd. 11th Floor
Long Beach, CA 90802
Dear Honorable Mayor and City Council,
I am writing to express California State University, Dominguez Hills support for the mayor’s recommendation to work with local educational institutions and industry partners to establish the Long Beach Housing Promise – a focused effort to advance strategic partnerships that will help expand affordable housing opportunities for Long Beach students, families, and educators and add to the City’s existing housing stock.
As you know, Long Beach is facing a severe housing shortage, with nearly 3,300 unhoused residents in need of permanent housing. This crisis disproportionately impacts students and their families, particularly students of color, LGBTQ+ students, and students with dependents. A 2019 study by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice found that 23% of community college students experienced homelessness in the past year, and 13% of university students experienced homelessness during the same period.
These numbers highlight the urgent need for more affordable and stable housing options for students and education workers across the greater Long Beach area. Without adequate housing, students may struggle to attend classes, complete coursework, and maintain their overall health and well-being. Teachers and education workers who experience housing insecurity also face challenges in providing quality education and meeting the needs of our students.
We believe that a collaborative approach is necessary to solve this complex structural problem.
Long Beach’s educational institutions have taken bold steps to address homelessness among their students in recent years by establishing safe parking for students, selling vacant surplus parcels, and expanding student housing. However, the innovation necessary to continue and expand upon this work will require partnerships with the city.
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
James L. Welch Hall (WH) 450
PHONE: (310) 243-3301
FAX: (310) 243-3858
Mayor Rex Richardson Page 2 of 2
Therefore, I support the recommendation to develop a Long Beach Housing Promise. I believe that this collaborative approach will help ensure that Long Beach’s students, educational workers,
and their families have access to safe, affordable housing, and make a meaningful difference towards educational enrichment with a bridge to career readiness by having housing options to consider.
Sincerely,
Thomas A. Parham, Ph.D.
President