Housing shortage and soaring rents squeeze US college students

[Sherman A1]

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) — College students squeezed by a massive housing shortage and surging rents are paying too much for moldy apartments, commuting long distances or sleeping in their cars to get an education — and that doesn't appear to be changing anytime soon.

For some colleges, the housing crunch was related to the pandemic, which muddied projections for who might want on-campus dorms when classes resumed in person last fall. But the lack of housing both on-campus and off has been a longstanding problem at other schools, including many in California, where homeowners and communities have sued to curb new student housing construction.

Nationally, 43% of students at four-year universities experienced housing insecurity in 2020, up from 35% in 2019, according to an annual survey conducted by The Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice at Temple University. Students reported being unable to pay their rent or mortgage, living in overcrowded units, or moving in with others due to financial difficulties.

For the first time since it began tracking basic needs in 2015, the survey found an equal percentage — 14% — of students at both four-year and two-year colleges who had experienced homelessness in the last year.

https://krcgtv.com/news/nation-world/housing-shortage-and-soaring-rents-squeeze-us-college-students-campus-housing-university

[JustAnotherGen]

1. The Universities need to fill the gap

Across the boards - the states have continuously cut funding for higher education. I'm sure that NJ, CA, MA, NY, etc. etc can find the funding in our budgets for in state students - private or public, 2 or 4 year.


I live in NJ - they can raise my taxes a little bit to help fund in-state NJ students who need housing while in college.

[MichMan]

2. If only there was a way one could look up information with a computer

"Most students have no idea of the housing situation when they choose to attend UC Berkeley, said 19-year-old freshman Sanaa Sodhi, and the university needs to do more to prepare students and support them in their search.

The political science major is excited to move out of the dorms and into a two-bedroom apartment where she and three friends are taking over the lease. The unit is older but a bargain at $3,000 a month, she said. The housemates were prepared to pay up to $5,200 for a safe place close to campus. "

Wait, I think it is called the internet

It would take very little time to find out ahead of time what the living costs are before choosing a college, or for that matter, to research potential salaries for various college majors to see if taking out tens of thousands in student loans makes financial sense or not.

[pfitz59]

3. I was at a 'new student' orientation at University of Washington a month ago

The number one concern of parents was dorm availability.