California’s Assembly Bill 357, designed to expedite student housing development on coastal university campuses, is set to take effect on January 1, 2024. This legislation, a product of collaboration between students at UC Santa Cruz and UC San Diego, aims to address the critical housing shortages faced by many educational institutions along the California coast.
The bill, known as the Student & Faculty Housing Success Act, seeks to streamline the approval process for campus housing projects by reducing bureaucratic hurdles imposed by the state’s Coastal Commission. This initiative is particularly significant as numerous California universities, colleges, and community colleges grapple with severe housing shortages, impacting thousands of students each year.
David Alvarez, a Democratic Assemblymember from San Diego, championed the bill with support from student organizations including the Student Homes Coalition and the UC Student Association. According to Kate Rodgers, policy director and co-chair of the Student Homes Coalition, “Tens of thousands of students experience homelessness every single year in California.” She noted that this issue is especially pronounced at coastal campuses like UC Santa Cruz and UC Santa Barbara.
The legislative changes introduced by Assembly Bill 357 are intended to facilitate a faster approval process for housing developments. The bill empowers the Coastal Commission’s executive director to classify certain modifications to long-range development plans as de minimis, meaning they have minimal environmental impact. This classification allows for quicker amendments without the need for extensive re-evaluation, which has historically delayed projects.
In addition, the bill allows universities to determine their own parking requirements for student, faculty, or staff housing. This decision is crucial since parking structures are expensive to build and occupy valuable space that could otherwise accommodate more housing units. By enabling universities to make these decisions, the bill aims to alleviate some of the financial burdens associated with housing construction.
The passage of Assembly Bill 357 follows the earlier enactment of Assembly Bill 130 in June 2023, which also aims to simplify housing development processes. Among its provisions, Assembly Bill 130 mandates that the Coastal Commission approve projects within 90 days and exempts some housing developments from appeals, further expediting the housing approval landscape.
Supporters of these legislative efforts hope that the efficiencies gained will translate into increased housing availability for students, faculty, and staff. The urgency of this issue is underscored by the fact that UC Santa Cruz currently accommodates approximately 9,300 students, while enrollment figures for fall 2024 project 17,940 undergraduates and 1,998 graduates.
Evelin Chavez, a second-year student at UC Santa Cruz and an advocate for housing reforms, expressed concern over the current housing situation. The university recently switched its housing allocation system from prioritization for low-income and first-generation students to a randomized lottery. This change has left many students struggling to secure affordable housing.
Chavez noted, “Low-income first-generation students are being pushed out of an education because they cannot afford to live near their campus.” Her advocacy efforts extend beyond campus, engaging local City Council members to raise awareness of students’ housing challenges.
The lack of stable housing not only affects students’ living situations but also impacts their academic performance and overall well-being. A 2020 survey revealed that over 40% of UC Santa Cruz students reported experiencing food insecurity, a situation exacerbated by the high costs of living in the area.
In response to these pressing issues, UC Santa Cruz plans to expand its housing capacity significantly. According to Scott Hernandez-Jason, a representative for the university, the long-range development plan aims to provide housing for 100% of new full-time students above 19,500 and to accommodate up to 25% of new employees. Additionally, the university is targeting a 40% increase in housing availability within the next decade.
As new housing projects are initiated, projected completion dates range from 2026 to 2030. Despite these plans, Hernandez-Jason indicated that there are currently no developments in the coastal zone that would require Coastal Commission approval.
The implementation of Assembly Bill 357 marks a significant step towards alleviating the housing crisis affecting California’s coastal universities. By reducing bureaucratic obstacles, the legislation aims to create a more efficient pathway for developing much-needed housing, ultimately supporting the educational aspirations of countless students.
