Senator Laird Ensures Funding for Joint Cabrillo College-UCSC Student Housing Project
Not actual project. This is a Jasper-AI generated depiction of a multi-story building.
As of September 12, 2023, Senator Laird (D – Santa Cruz) made a significant announcement regarding the joint student housing project between Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz. This groundbreaking initiative, chosen in the 2023-2024 round of the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program, has received complete support. The initiative has been included in a budget bill passed by the Senate and was sent to the Governor for final approval. It is worth noting that this collaboration marks an important milestone in the state's history, as it is the first-ever partnership of its kind between a University of California institution and a Community College.
The groundbreaking ceremony for the project is projected to take place in September 2024. Upon its completion in the fall of 2026, the student housing project will feature a multi-story building with approximately 624 beds. Out of these beds, 376 will be allocated for Cabrillo students, while the remaining 248 will be reserved for UCSC students. This endeavor is not only significant in terms of providing much-needed accommodation but also serves as an inspiring model for our higher education systems to address the pressing and growing problem of student homelessness through collaborative efforts.
“I hear on a daily basis from my constituents about the hardships they face when it comes to housing in Santa Cruz County,” Laird said. “Students are having to make really difficult choices about how or if they can continue their education in our community. That is why I have been dogged in ensuring the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program was supported in a way that recognizes the economic burdens countless students face in not only our region, but California as a whole.”
“Affordable and reliable university housing is critical in helping students successfully earn a UC Santa Cruz degree,” said UC Santa Cruz Chancellor Cynthia Larive. “We deeply appreciate the support of Senator Laird and other California lawmakers in helping us increase educational access by building more student housing.”
"We are grateful that local legislators and the Governor have come to a historic agreement to fund our collaborative housing project for local college students," said Matt Wetstein, President of Cabrillo College. "This is a game changer for our students, 20% of whom are homeless. With this infusion of revenue bond funds from the University of California, we'll be able to house our most needy students, accelerate their completion, and secure transfer opportunities for them at a world-class university."
About Senator John Laird
Senator John Laird represents the 17th State Senate District, which includes all of Santa Cruz and San Luis Obispo counties, the majority of Monterey County, as well as parts of Santa Clara County. He previously served as the Secretary of the California Natural Resources Agency, member of the State Integrated Waste Management Board, a member of the State Assembly, Executive Director of the Santa Cruz Aids Project, and two terms as Santa Cruz Mayor. As one of the first openly gay mayors in the United State, Senator Laird has dedicated his life to social justice, environmental advocacy, sound government, and public service. Senator Laird has been a long-time resident of Santa Cruz with his spouse John Flores.