A new proposal in California would permit homeless students attending the state’s community colleges and universities to sleep in their cars on campus, as part of a response to the region’s ongoing housing emergency.
According to a report by the Public Policy Institute of California, the state ranks among the lowest in homeownership and faces the highest housing costs in the country, with rental prices roughly 50% above the national average, reports Fox News.
The proposed legislation offers a temporary measure to address the state’s persistent housing challenges. Assembly member Corey Jackson, a Democrat with a background in social work, introduced the bill in March. If enacted, it would mandate that California State University chancellors and community college district boards implement overnight parking initiatives—complete with “basic needs coordinators and campus security”—by the end of 2026.
“This bill confronts a harsh reality to many of our students who are sleeping in their vehicles or other displaced settings as they are unable to find affordable housing, and that’s jeopardizing their education,” Jackson explained. “What I am proposing is practical, immediate relief, overnight parking programs that turn campus lots into safe, temporary havens while the state works on lasting solutions.”
Data from the Community College League of California’s 2023 survey found that nearly 60% of community college students in the state face housing insecurity, with one in four experiencing homelessness.
“We are in a housing crisis. We are in a homelessness crisis, and it’s not an either or approach. It’s a both and all of the above approach,” Jackson added.
While several legislative efforts this year target student housing construction and streamlining development regulations, Jackson’s initiative aims to provide near-term assistance for students facing urgent housing needs. Despite resistance from some stakeholders, Jackson reintroduced a version of the bill after a similar effort failed last year. The 2025 version has since cleared the Assembly Higher Education Committee.
Although it has yet to undergo its initial committee hearing, the bill has already drawn widespread attention, sparking national debate across the political spectrum about the state of California’s housing market.
“After wrecking affordability in California, Democrats have nothing left but bad ideas,” said California Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher in a statement to Fox News Digital. “They’re now proposing to let students sleep in cars because they can’t fix the housing crisis they created. This isn’t innovation. It’s desperation from a party that spent decades raising costs, blocking new housing and wasting billions on programs that failed. Letting students live in parking lots isn’t a solution. It’s proof their policies have completely collapsed.”
When asked for comment, Governor Gavin Newsom’s office told Fox News Digital it generally refrains from discussing pending legislation.
A spokesperson for Newsom noted that, despite the national increase in homelessness—up more than 18%—California’s rate is closer to 3%, outperforming most other states. The spokesperson added that the state now offers over 71,000 year-round shelter beds, a number said to be double what was established during the five years before Newsom took office.
Progressive policy advisor Brendan Hartnett also weighed in, criticizing Newsom directly. “Newsom should spend more time governing and addressing California’s housing crisis, so students don’t have to sleep in cars & less time launching his own podcast. [I don’t know] how he sees himself as a 2028 contender when he has totally FAILED to address voters’ top issue: AFFORDABILITY,” Hartnett posted on X.
