Report: 1 In 10 Cal State University Students Homeless

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — About one in 10 of California State University's 460,000 students is homeless, and one in five doesn't have steady access to enough food, according to a study whose findings were reported Tuesday.

The study, intended to address an issue that remains largely undocumented at the nation's public universities, was commissioned by Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White.

The study was discussed at a Long Beach conference of college administrators, researchers, students and advocacy groups, where White emphasized the need for Cal State – the nation's largest public university system – to tackle the issue systematically across its 23 campuses.

The first phase of the study found that an estimated 8 to 12 percent of students live in unstable housing situations, and 21 to 24 percent are food insecure, according to Cal State officials.

Eleven of Cal State's campuses offer programs for students, including Cal State Long Beach, which provides meals, short-term temporary housing and emergency funds; Cal State San Bernardino, which offers a food pantry stocked by contributions from the community; and CSU Dominguez Hills, which also offers a food pantry and a hot meal program.

More of CSU's campuses were being encouraged to put programs in place to help homeless and food insecure students, CSU officials said.

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