Hi! My name is Ella, a rising junior in high school, and along with my club members, our goal is to fundraise to make self-care baskets for houseless college students in the LA area. It's shocking to learn that so many college students don't have a place to call home. Here are some statistics to give you a sense of how many students are struggling with homelessness: According to a 2024 memo prepared for the state legislature, Of the 460,000 Cal State students, 46,000 (10%) experience houselessness. Of the 280,000 students in the UC system, 14,000 (5%) experience homelessness. Of the 1.8 million students at California Community Colleges, 360,000 (20%) experience houselessness. 16 percent of UC students in 2024 reported sleeping in nontraditional housing arrangements (such as a hotel, transitional housing, or outdoor location) because they lacked permanent housing. Students experiencing homelessness often resort to sleeping in abandoned buildings, on park benches, or in the streets, putting their safety at risk. This lack of stability hinders their ability to focus on their studies and succeed in school, perpetuating a cycle of poverty in which they struggle to secure affordable housing. The cycle is difficult to break and can lead to mental and physical health issues, including depression and chronic illness, making it even harder to succeed - particularly when juggling school and work. Our goal is to put together at least 100 care packages filled with essential items like toiletries and snacks. This project is close to my heart because it is important to raise awareness about the challenges that college students without a home face. It's heartbreaking to know that many college students who are experiencing houselessness are struggling to find basic necessities. It's a major hindrance to achieving their dreams. No student should have to worry about where they're going to sleep or how they'll find food. And their aspirations shouldn't be hindered because of these basic needs either. Every student deserves to have everything they need to succeed in school and beyond. By contributing to help alleviate some of the challenges that houseless college students face and empower them to succeed in their academic pursuits and their future dreams. With your help, we can spread more awareness about this issue and fundraise for organizations that support these students. Together we can positively impact the lives of these students and show them that they are not alone in their struggles. By supporting them in this way, we are creating a better future for all of us. Let's continue to spread kindness and compassion to those with big dreams! Sources: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/10/18/california-university-students-struggle-with-housing-insecurity#:~:text=A%202424%20memo%20(PDF)%20prepared,attending%20California%20State%20University%20institutions. https://abgt.assembly.ca.gov/sites/abgt.assembly.ca.gov/files/FINAL%20Sub%202%20Nov%208%20Agenda.pdf https://www.latimes.com/local/abcarian/la-me-abcarian-bruin-shelter-20160923-snap-story.html
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