Cabrillo College and the University of California Santa Cruz have broken ground on a joint 624-bed housing project at the community college’s campus in Aptos.
Lookout Santa Cruz reports that the project aims to address the urgent need to reduce rates of homelessness among the student populations at both schools.
Cabrillo College Student Trustee Grace Goodhue cited a Community College League of California survey finding that about 54% of the students in the college’s region are directly affected by housing insecurity, and about 25% said they had been homeless in the past year.
“Having stable, affordable housing will allow Cabrillo and UCSC students to focus on their schoolwork and succeed in their educational and career goals,” she said.
The project, named Costa Vista, will have three buildings across 257,000 square feet next to the college’s softball fields. A total of 376 beds (60%) will be available for Cabrillo students, and the remaining 248 beds (40%) will be for UC Santa Cruz students.
Costa Vista will also have a child care center and offer spaces for 50 to 64 infants, toddlers and preschoolers between 6 months and 3 years old.
