San Diego City College looks to build affordable housing

The San Diego Community College District has entered negotiations with a real estate development firm as the district looks to build affordable student housing at San Diego City College, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported.

The project would be the first affordable student housing at San Diego City College and would include 808 beds. The building would offer several types of units, including studio apartments, two-bedroom apartments and suites.

The affordable housing project would come at a time when many students at the college could benefit from lower housing costs. According to the Union-Tribune, a 2022 survey found that about 60% of students at the college had trouble paying their living expenses.

“This is a landmark decision,” district trustee Bernie Rhinerson said, according to The Union-Tribune. “I see this as one of the more important votes that I will cast because we have never thought about being in housing. But as the cost of housing and homelessness has impacted our students more and more, it’s become a statewide issue, a regional issue and it’s an issue for our students.”