By Evelyn Lucho

The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) serves over 200,000 students. Half report incomes near or below the poverty line, and 64% report experiencing a basic needs insecurity. With these needs in mind, LACCD sought an opportunity for California State University (CSU) and California Community Colleges (CCC) housing departments to partner and house students. Through a Spark Grant from Michelson 20MM, the team explored and researched alternative housing support strategies.

Lessons Learned From Co-Housing Partnerships

The research focused on opportunities and challenges in higher education partnerships that leveraged underutilized university dorms to house community college students. The findings, presented during Collaborative Solutions: Addressing Community College Student Housing Insecurity Through University Partnerships, show co-housing partnerships are complex yet feasible. When created with intentionality, these collaborations can extend far beyond housing logistics to support student well-being and create mutually beneficial outcomes for all involved.

Although only a handful of institutions are pursuing co-housing partnerships, a statewide movement is pushing to make this approach possible. Ria Bhatt shared key enabling conditions for co-housing: funding availability, including state and public dollars; raising basic needs awareness on campus; prioritizing transfer students; and statewide strategies to strengthen the education pipeline for transfers to four-year universities. 

Three key challenges complicate collaboration: institutional culture, governance and staffing structures, and procedural rigidity. “Developing innovative modules that require interdependence and flexibility across organizations is really challenging, especially when control and outcomes cannot be guaranteed,” Maureen Carew shared. “Bureaucracies are, by design, cautious. Standard operating procedures prioritize stability and compliance, which makes cross-institutional collaboration seem risky and unmanageable, especially when success depends on another institution’s follow-through.”

Ultimately, a district and leadership team that insist on the systems, culture, policies, and practices that promote an understanding of student needs coupled with a comprehensive set of supports can accomplish great strides in securing student housing. While strong local leadership makes innovation possible, systems-level policy is needed to scale. Institutions and districts should build on promising local models, such as  Riverside Community College District (RCCD) and the University of California, Riverside’s (UCR’s) model, and work to embed partnership best practices into culture, policy, and infrastructure across higher education.

Innovative Housing Partnerships

The discussion took a closer look at the partnership between RCCD and UCR. The RCCD-UCR Residential Scholars Program is the first in the state to develop a clearer transfer pipeline for RCCD students to live at UCR while pursuing their studies. Now in its third year, it gives first-generation students the opportunity to see and experience a four-year institution, making transferring much more realistic and attainable to them.  Similarly, the Den2Den Housing Pathways Program between San Bernardino Valley College (SBVC) and CSU San Bernardino allows eligible SBVC students to live and enjoy full access to CSUSB campus dining and amenities, incorporating the students as part of the vibrant college community. 

The programs succeed by developing a shared vision, engaging diverse team members, creating clear institutional agreements, building community, and planning for sustainability. Teams also developed contingency plans, collected data to use for improvement, and tracked outcomes.  

Dyeem Tolbert, Residential Scholar, shared, “It’s just amazing to be here because I want to be at a UC… I want to be part of the groups, part of the programs at UCR… I want to transfer already.” Tolbert’s reflection highlights that the program is not only meeting a student’s basic housing needs but also fostering academic motivation and a strong sense of belonging. By supporting stability and inclusion, the program helps students stay on track to achieve their educational goals and ultimately earn their degree. 

An Opportunity to Scale the Model

The co-housing model clearly succeeds: it provides students with stable housing while cultivating belonging, persistence, and growth. As students bring their full selves to campus, new challenges arise. Mental health and behavioral needs require intentional and compassionate support. 

As Dr. Mathew Smith of CSUSB reminded us, “This is the fullness of who students are, especially at this developmental level. And we have to be ready to address that.” These reflections underscore the importance of strengthening and expanding co-housing initiatives. Now more than ever, institutions have the opportunity, and responsibility, to invest in models that embrace the whole student, ensuring they are not only housed, but truly supported in their journey to thrive and succeed.

If you’d like to implement a similar model on your campus, an example agreement is available. You may also download the slides shared.

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About the Michelson 20MM Foundation

Michelson 20MM is a private, nonprofit foundation working toward equity for underserved and historically underrepresented communities by expanding access to educational and employment opportunities, increasing affordability of educational programs, and ensuring the necessary supports are in place for individuals to thrive. To do so, we work in the following verticals: Digital Equity, Intellectual Property, Smart Justice, Student Basic Needs, and Open Educational Resources (OER). Co-chaired and funded by Alya and Gary Michelson, Michelson 20MM is part of the Michelson Philanthropies network of foundations.