Affordable Student Housing Program (California)

Affordable Student Housing Program (California) is sponsored by California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office. This program supports the planning and construction of affordable student housing across the three public higher education segments in California (California Community Colleges, California State University, and University of California campuses).

Affordable Student Housing Program Information | California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office Affordable Student Housing Program Information Students seeking housing information, please work with your local college/district. For a complete listing of available student housing and contact information, please visit the College Dormitories and Housing webpage.

As part of the 2021-22 California Budget package, Senate Bill 169 (2021), established the Higher Education Student Housing and Capacity Expansion Grant Program as well as codified it in California Education Code Sections 17200-17204. California Community Colleges (CCCs) refer to the Higher Education Student Housing and Capacity Expansion Grant Program as the Affordable Student Housing program.

This program supports the planning and construction of affordable student housing across the three public higher education segments and provided colleges and universities the opportunity to apply for student housing grants.

How the Affordable Student Housing Program Started The California Department of Finance first administered the program in preparation for the 2022-23 California Budget, and they received a first round of applications from community college districts for both construction projects and planning grants. The California Budget package, Assembly Bill 183 (2022), provided CCCs $564.

5 million for Affordable Student Housing construction grants and $17. 9 million for planning grants. This funded 70 planning grants and identified 12 construction projects for state funding, which include 11 housing projects at community college campuses and 1 intersegmental project between the CCCs and California State University.

In addition, AB 183 transitioned administrative oversight of the program to the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office (Chancellor’s Office). Changes to the Affordable Student Housing Construction Program In preparation for the 2023-24 California Budget, the Chancellor’s Office received a second round of construction applications.

The 2023-24 California Budget Act package, Senate Bill 117 (2023), identified 4 projects to be constructed on community college campuses and 3 intersegmental housing grants with University of California (UC) campuses. Overall, the budget provided $463. 8 million for these projects.

In addition, SB 117 shifted Affordable Student Housing construction grant funding sourced from the California General Fund to lease-revenue bond funding. Under this new framework, intersegmental student housing projects are designated to be funded through revenue bonds issued by UC or California State University's (CSU) system offices. However, state support for CCC construction projects would be determined in future legislation.

Subsequent amendments to the 2023-24 California Budget Act included Senate Bill 104 (2023) and Senate Bill 142 (2023), which provided the following: Ongoing annual rental subsidies for the provision of affordable student housing rental rates for approved community college projects.

A commitment to identify a statewide lease revenue bond or other statewide financing or fiscal approach be developed and included to support California community college affordable student housing projects. For more information about the funding transition, please see the Affordable Student Housing FAQ (PDF) .

In preparation for the 2024-25 California Budget, the Chancellor’s Office newly established Student Housing Unit received and reviewed a third round of applications for construction projects before making recommendations to California Legislature. However, no new projects were identified in this budget due to state budget constraints.

Statewide Lease Revenue Bond As part of the 2024 California Budget Act package, Senate Bill 155 (2024) established a Statewide Lease Revenue Bond (SLRB) as the financing framework to support selected affordable student housing projects. It authorized the California State Public Works Board to issue $804. 7 million through the SLRB for thirteen student housing projects identified in the previous two budgets.

The four intersegmental student housing projects are funded through revenue bonds issued by UC or CSU’s system offices. Due to the advanced status of the development of Napa Valley College and Santa Rosa Junior College’s housing projects, they received state funding, but the projects are not included in the SLRB. The budget also includes trailer bill language for the SLRB in Government Code Sections 15820.

200 - 15820. 206, which details the roles of the State Public Works Board, CCC Board of Governors, and the district participating in the program as well as the requirement of operating agreements to be developed between these entities for each project.

The Chancellor’s Office Student Housing team continues to coordinate with participating districts to complete following steps to establish designated Affordable Student Housing projects under the SB 155 Statewide Lease Revenue Bond: Individual Community College District Board of Trustees approval, through formal Board action, for their Affordable Student Housing project to participate in the SB 155 SLRB program as well as delegate authority to administer the Affordable Student Housing project to college and/or district administrators.

Coordinate with the Chancellor’s Office Student Housing team, Department of Finance, and Department of Finance’s bond counsel to complete real estate due diligence review of the Affordable Student Housing project site. Execute SB 155 SLRB project delivery and construction agreement, sign and record restrictive covenant to ensure the project’s affordability standards, and lease leaseback agreements.

Successful completion of all these steps are required for the projects to be established under SB 155 SLRB and to release state programmatic funding.

The Chancellor’s Office continues to work with State and community college leaders to implement the SLRB financing framework and provide details about the funding transition from the former General Fund supported grant program to the SLRB, bond preparation work, interim financing, operating agreements, and bond compliance.

Affordable Student Housing Project College Map The college map provides housing detail by project phases and college.

Affordable Student Housing Projects Augmentation and Material Project Change Guidance (PDF) SH 26-01 Affordable Student Housing Construction Application Guidance (PDF) memo attachments are listed below: Strong Workforce Regions (PDF) Regions of High Need (PDF) Affordable Student Housing Construction Scoring Rubric (PDF) SH 25-01 Affordable Student Housing Construction Applications are Open (PDF) Project Assignments (PDF) Transition to Lease Revenue Bond Affordable Student Housing Frequently Asked Questions Amended 2023 Budget Act and Higher Education Trailer Bill (PDF) Lease Revenue Bond Informational Presentation (PDF) FUSION Student Housing Module CCC ASH Total Cost of Ownership Calculator (EXCEL) ASH Student Housing Scoring Rubric (PDF) California Community Colleges Affordable Student Housing Program Construction Project Change Request Form (PDF) 2025 Annual Report: California Community Colleges Student Housing Program (PDF) 2024 Annual Report: California Community Colleges Student Housing Program (PDF) 2023 Annual Report: Affordable Student Housing Construction Grant (PDF) 2023 Student Housing Legislative Brief (PDF) California Community College Student Housing Coalition Letter (dated 4-12-2022) on CCC Construction Grant and CCC Planning Grant Funding (PDF) Student Housing Round 1 and 2 Projects College Map (PDF) Guiding Authority and Funding ASH 23-01 - Scheduled Maintenance for Affordable Student Housing Facilities - Guidance on Changes to Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations (PDF) California Education Code §§ 17200-17204 DSA PL 24-01: Workforce Housing Projects and Community College Student Housing Projects Submitted to DSA (PDF) Lease Revenue Bond Gov Code §§ 15820.

200-15820.

206 SB 169 (2021) – Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program Bill Language AB 183 (2022) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language AB 190 (2022) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language SB 117 (2023) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language SB 104 (2023) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language SB 142 (2023) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language SB 155 (2024) – Higher Education Trailer Bill Language Affordable Student Housing Planning Grant District Funding Allocation (PDF) Round One Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program FAQ (PDF) Round One DF-151 COBCP Student Housing Grant (PDF) Round One Supplemental Application Form (MS Word) Round One Application Forms' Detailed Instructions (PDF) Round Two Capital Outlay Budget Change Proposal (COBCP) Application Form (MS Word) Round Two FY 2023-24 Affordable Student Housing Project List and Scores (PDF) Round Two CCC Student Housing Grant – Supplemental Application (PDF) Rounds Two and Three ASH Student Housing Scoring Rubric (PDF) Student Housing Application Process Memo (PDF) Student Housing Template (Excel) Round Three FY 2023-24 Affordable Student Housing Project List and Scores (PDF) Round Three CCC Affordable Student Housing Movement Update (PDF) Legislative Analyst's Office (LAO) Analysis of Student Housing within the 2022-23 Budget (PDF) CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY COLLEGES CHANCELLOR'S OFFICE Chancellor's Office Divisions Chancellor’s Office Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA)