California Community College Students Face Severe Food, Housing Insecurity
Community college students in California face significant barriers to completion, with financial and mental health concerns topping the list. A recent survey, the '2025 Real College CA Student Survey', has shed light on the alarming rates of food and housing insecurity among these students.
The survey, conducted by the Real College California initiative in collaboration with the California Community College system and its leadership, including the Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District, revealed that 58% of community college students in California are housing insecure. This is a slight improvement from 2023, but the number of students needing help remains high. Similarly, two in three students lack reliable access to food or housing, with 46% experiencing food insecurity.
These figures are higher than national estimates, highlighting the urgent need for targeted support. Marginalized students, such as African American and Black students, LGBTQ+ students, and independent students, are disproportionately affected by these basic needs insecurities. The survey also found that students with lower grades are more likely to lack essential resources, further emphasizing the impact of these issues on academic performance.
The '2025 Real College CA Student Survey' underscores the pressing need for comprehensive support systems to address food and housing insecurity among community college students in California. These challenges, which disproportionately affect marginalized students, are significant barriers to completion and must be tackled to ensure equal opportunities for all students.
