By Christina Merino | cmerino@scng.com
PUBLISHED: December 2, 2024 at 6:14 PM PST
Long Beach City College celebrates receiving $1 million in federal funding from Rep. Nanette Barragán to support the development of LBCC’s mixed-use complex with student housing in North Long Beach on Monday, Dec. 2, 2024, at the North Long Beach Higher Education Center. (Photo by Christina Merino, Press-Telegram/SCNG)
Long Beach City College received funding for its affordable student housing project in North Long Beach.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents California’s 44th Congressional District, helped secure $1 million in federal funding, which will support the development of LBCC’s mixed-use complex with student housing in North Long Beach.
LBCC Board of Trustees members, city representatives, and college officials celebrated with a check presentation on Monday, Dec. 2, at LBCC’s North Long Beach Higher Education Center.
The three-story, mixed-use affordable student housing development and satellite classroom facility will be located adjacent to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.
“Thanks to Congresswoman Barragán, LBCC can continue to expand upon our physical presence in North Long Beach,” said Vivian Malauulu, LBCC Board of Trustees President. “Our students will be a short walk from the new housing facility to a variety of classes taught at the North Long Beach Higher Education Center.”
“This important initiative not only addresses the critical housing needs of our students, but it also alleviates the heavy mental stress they experience due to housing insecurity,” Malauulu said. “We are proud to meet our students where they are and connect them with valuable resources right in their community.”
Long Beach City College received funding for its affordable student housing project in North Long Beach.
Rep. Nanette Barragán, who represents California’s 44th Congressional District, helped secure $1 million in federal funding, which will support the development of LBCC’s mixed-use complex with student housing in North Long Beach.
LBCC Board of Trustees members, city representatives, and college officials celebrated with a check presentation on Monday, Dec. 2, at LBCC’s North Long Beach Higher Education Center.
The three-story, mixed-use affordable student housing development and satellite classroom facility will be located adjacent to the Michelle Obama Neighborhood Library.
“Thanks to Congresswoman Barragán, LBCC can continue to expand upon our physical presence in North Long Beach,” said Vivian Malauulu, LBCC Board of Trustees President. “Our students will be a short walk from the new housing facility to a variety of classes taught at the North Long Beach Higher Education Center.”
“This important initiative not only addresses the critical housing needs of our students, but it also alleviates the heavy mental stress they experience due to housing insecurity,” Malauulu said. “We are proud to meet our students where they are and connect them with valuable resources right in their community.”
“We know that the high cost of housing is a significant burden on college students, but this site will provide 36 new units for local students to rent, about half of the cost of market-rate rentals in Long Beach,” Barragán said during the presentation. “This will also be the first LBCC housing development to serve students with children and dependents. That’s a great accomplishment.”
Providing affordable student housing is especially important in North Long Beach, Barragán added, because one in four LBCC students from the 90805 ZIP code supports another family member.
“This population is underserved by traditional student housing models, which typically cater to individuals enrolled in classes without children and dependents,” she said. “So by adding these new 36 beds of critically needed student housing, as well as educational spaces and supportive services, just a short walk away from the new North Long Beach Higher Education Center, we will deliver the resources needed to make a college education more attainable to students in Uptown Long Beach.”
The $1 million funding was secured by Barragán during last year’s appropriations process.
Housing insecurity had been an issue for LBCC students for many years, Superintendent-President Mike Muñoz said during the presentation.
According to a spring 2024 survey conducted by the college – nearly 750 LBCC students self-identified that they were at-risk or experiencing homelessness, with 169 students without a home, Muñoz said.
“This funding is more than just money – it’s about changing lives,” Muñoz said. “Our vision of creating a North Long Beach housing complex is now one step closer to becoming a reality, moving us toward reducing housing instability and creating a safe, supportive environment where our students can thrive both in and out of the classroom.”
This affordable student housing project is a partnership between the city, college, and the Congressmember’s Office to be able to support students with dependents, who are often underserved, Muñoz said in an interview.
“I’m just so excited,” he said, “to see a project like this come to Long Beach City College.”