California community college breaks ground on first student housing in nearly 100 years

Long Beach City College is moving forward with a major housing project that could reshape the daily lives of hundreds of students who have been priced out of stable housing.

At a college that has gone almost 100 years without student housing, the 431-bed project marks a major shift for a campus where housing insecurity has become a serious obstacle to education.

Here's what to know

When it opens in fall 2028, the new complex on LBCC's Liberal Arts Campus is expected to offer 431 beds across studio, single-bed, and double-bed units. Plans also call for lounge and study space, shared kitchens, and laundry rooms, and the school has already begun preparing the site, the Long Beach Post reported.

Backed by measures LB and AC, voter-approved bonds aimed at campus revitalization, the development is expected to cost $127 million. The housing site is next to Veterans Memorial Stadium, which is also set for major upgrades.

A survey cited by the Long Beach Post found that nearly 12% of respondents had been homeless, around 800 reported housing insecurity, and 80 said they had slept in their cars.

For students balancing jobs, classes, and family responsibilities, unstable or unaffordable housing can be the factor that determines whether they remain enrolled.

More background

Student housing is often associated with four-year universities, but community college students can face some of the most acute financial pressures. Many commute, work long hours, or support relatives while trying to complete degrees or certificates.

In Long Beach, those challenges appear to be especially severe. A shortage of affordable housing can push students into unstable living situations, longer commutes, or even homelessness, all of which can make it harder to attend class regularly and finish school.

Long Beach City College has long operated without on-campus housing, so the decision represents a major expansion in how the school supports students beyond the classroom.

Across California, high rents continue to strain household budgets and push schools and local governments to think more creatively about affordable housing options.

What's being done?

LBCC's housing plans extend beyond the new campus development. The college is also building a few dozen affordable housing units in North Long Beach, a separate project the Long Beach Post reported is expected to be completed in fall 2029.

Together, the efforts are meant to create more stable living options for students and residents who might otherwise struggle to remain in the area.

Eligibility rules, rental prices, and placement standards for both developments are still being worked out, LBCC spokesperson Stacey Toda told the Long Beach Post.

In a press release, LBCC board of trustees President Uduak-Joe Ntuk said this is "the first time in Long Beach City College's nearly 100-year history [that] students will have the opportunity to live and learn on campus."

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