Photo: Long Beach City College
Long Beach City College has announced a new pilot program aimed at helping students living out of their cars.
Titled "Safe Parking," the program allows unhoused students to park overnight at the college's Pacific Coast Campus parking structure.
The Safe Parking Program will provide students access to showers, restrooms, electricity, and WiFi every night of the week.
According to The Long Beach Post, the program is only in effect at the college’s Pacific Coast Campus in Central Long Beach and space will be limited to 15 students during the pilot period. Quaifying students must be experiencing homelessness and must be currently enrolled. At this time, students with spouses, partners or children do not qualify. However, documented emotional support and service animals will be accepted, according to a release from the college.
The school's parking structure will be open for overnight parking from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily, and showers will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 a.m.
LBCC officials say the program hopes to help students focus on their coursework without having to worry about their safety or the police being called on them for sleeping in their vehicles.
Last year, an LBCC spokesperson estimated that about 10% of LBCC students were homeless.
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Courtesy of Long Beach City College