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In a new initiative from the California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office, Gavilan College was one of 14 colleges across the state selected for the College Homeless and Housing Insecure Pilot Program. Gavilan will receive $500,000 per year for three years to help students who are homeless and housing insecure to secure a stable residence. The program was funded through a $9 million allocation included in the 2019-20 budget by the state legislature to support rapid rehousing services to California Community College students.
According the Gavilan College president Dr. Kathleen Rose, "Gavilan College is committed to success for our students, including those who often struggle with housing insecurity while in college: former foster youth, military veterans, low income families, and people with disabilities. Stable housing is a key component in ensuring that students are able to complete their educational goals."
Nineteen percent of respondents who participated in a 2019 California Community Colleges #RealCollege Survey conducted by The Hope Center for College, Community and Justice at Temple University said they were homeless at some time during the previous year. Sixty percent of respondents said they had experienced housing insecurity - which includes an array of challenges that include an inability to pay rent or utilities, not having a place to stay or needing to move frequently - within the previous year. Nearly 40,000 students from 57 California community colleges participated in the survey, and 7 in 10 students said they had experienced food or housing insecurity during the previous year.
The California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office used a data-driven approach to hone in on campuses great need and the ability to implement the pilot program immediately. At least one campus was selected from each of the California Community Colleges' seven regions, and selection criteria included the availability of low-income housing in the area, the percentage of students receiving Pell grants, the percentage of foster or former foster youth students, the percentage of student veterans, and the percentage of students living with a disability. Campuses were also rewarded if they had effective relationships with community-based housing organizations.
Colleges identified to receive annual, three-year grants are:
- Antelope Valley College $700,000
- Barstow College $500,000
- Butte College $700,000
- Cerritos College $700,000
- Gavilan College $500,000
- Imperial Valley College $700,000
- Long Beach City College $700,000
- Los Angeles Southwest College $700,000
- College of the Redwoods $500,000
- Riverside City College $700,000
- San Diego City College $600,000
- Fresno City College $700,000
- Victor Valley College $700,000
- Modesto College $700,000
Gavilan College serves a district encompassing 2700 square miles from southern Santa Clara County through San Benito County, with a main campus in Gilroy and additional locations in Hollister, Morgan Hill, San Martin, and Coyote Valley.
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Media contact
Jan Bernstein Chargin, Director, Public Information
Gavilan College
5055 Santa Teresa Blvd, Gilroy, CA 95020
(408) 848-4724
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