RCCER Stands with Cal Poly Students in the Fight for Housing
RCCER stands in solidarity with the Cal Poly Humboldt students protesting the lack of safe, affordable housing options available on campus and in the surrounding Humboldt County communities.
The Cal Poly Humboldt administration’s decision to limit the housing options available on campus for returning students in the 2023-24 academic year will further exacerbate our region’s housing shortage. Last year, the North Coast Journal reported that the local rental vacancy rate for Humboldt County ranged between three and zero percent. Pushing more students to compete for housing in the private market will lead to increased instances of housing insecurity and homelessness. More students will be forced to seek housing further away from campus, which will lead to longer commute times, more traffic, and increased emissions.
The housing challenges facing Cal Poly Humboldt students highlight the need for immediate local solutions that address the interlocking housing and environmental crises in our region. This week, RCCER will release our 2023 Humboldt County Climate Justice Agenda that outlines tangible policy solutions that can be implemented locally.
We call on elected officials, local governments, and the university administration to take bold and immediate action:
RCCER stands in solidarity with the Cal Poly Humboldt students protesting the lack of safe, affordable housing options available on campus and in the surrounding Humboldt County communities.
The Cal Poly Humboldt administration’s decision to limit the housing options available on campus for returning students in the 2023-24 academic year will further exacerbate our region’s housing shortage. Last year, the North Coast Journal reported that the local rental vacancy rate for Humboldt County ranged between three and zero percent. Pushing more students to compete for housing in the private market will lead to increased instances of housing insecurity and homelessness. More students will be forced to seek housing further away from campus, which will lead to longer commute times, more traffic, and increased emissions.
The housing challenges facing Cal Poly Humboldt students highlight the need for immediate local solutions that address the interlocking housing and environmental crises in our region. This week, RCCER will release our 2023 Humboldt County Climate Justice Agenda that outlines tangible policy solutions that can be implemented locally.
We call on elected officials, local governments, and the university administration to take bold and immediate action:
- Expedite housing production in areas near campus, including the adoption of the Gateway Area Plan and other infill housing projects.
- Ensure students can safely get to campus without a car by increasing funding for local public transit, supporting pedestrian and bike infrastructure, and introducing accessible car-sharing programs.
- Increase local renter protections, renter education, and anti-housing speculation policies to help students safely compete in the housing market.
