California Considers Letting Homeless College Students Sleep in Cars As Housing Crisis Worsens

California is making headlines again, this time with a bold proposal to let homeless students at community colleges and state universities sleep overnight in their cars on campus. The move is designed as a stopgap while the state's housing crisis continues to spiral, with sky-high rents and homeownership rates among the lowest in the country.

Assemblymember Corey Jackson, a Democrat armed with a doctorate in social work and a serious sense of urgency, rolled out a bill requiring colleges to set up overnight parking programs by late 2026. These programs would include basic needs coordinators and campus security, aiming to create safe spaces in campus lots for students who don't have a roof over their heads.

Jackson didn't sugarcoat the situation, pointing out that countless students are forced to sleep in their vehicles or other unstable spots, which is putting their education at risk. He described the plan as "practical, immediate relief"—a phrase that says a lot about how dire things have gotten. When your best option is a parking lot, it's safe to say the system needs more than a little tweaking.

Data from the Community College League of California in 2023 paints a stark picture: nearly 60% of community college students in the state are housing insecure, and 1 in 4 is homeless. These numbers are as jarring as a car alarm at 2 a.m.—and sadly, just as common in California these days.

Other lawmakers are trying to cut through red tape or drum up funding for more student housing, but Jackson's bill stands out for its immediacy. He tried a similar proposal last year, which flopped, but this time it's cleared its first committee hurdle and is attracting attention well beyond state lines.

Of course, the critics are out in force. Republican Assembly Leader James Gallagher slammed the plan, calling it "desperation" and blaming decades of failed policies for the housing crunch. "Letting students live in parking lots isn't a solution. It's proof their policies have completely collapsed," he argued. Not exactly the endorsement you'd hope for.

Governor Gavin Newsom's office, meanwhile, is touting the state's progress. According to recent data, while homelessness nationwide has jumped by more than 18%, California's increase is under 3%. The state also boasts over 71,000 year-round shelter beds, double what existed before Newsom took office. Still, critics say that's not enough, especially for students stuck between rising rents and rising tuition.

Some observers say the bill is a sign of just how broken the system is. Conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt warned that parking lots could turn into "homeless encampments," and joked that the real draw for enrolling in community college might soon be a reserved parking spot with a side of survival skills. Progressive policy advisor Brendan Hartnett used social media to jab at Newsom's priorities, suggesting he spend less time podcasting and more time fixing the affordability crisis.

As California's housing debate rages on, one thing is clear: for a growing number of students, the American Dream is currently parked in a campus lot, engine off, waiting for something better.