Toro CARE provides useful resources, but the program has limits.
By Damonya Jones, Staff Reporter
This past summer, my older sister and I were living together in an apartment in Orange County. Like many of my fellow Toros, I was a commuter student, making the long trip from Anaheim to Carson—30 minutes on a really good day, up to an hour-plus during rush hour.
I wanted more independence, ultimately, so I decided to move out to Los Angeles. My sister was my support system, but life happens and you roll with it as best as you can. I spent a week in an AirBnB before connecting with Toro CARE, which provides resources to students experiencing complex hardships, challenges, and unforeseen circumstances.
I lived in emergency housing on campus for about two months before I could secure an apartment of my own in LA. There was a lot of uncertainty during this transition, but I was fortunate never to be without a roof over my head.
Some Toros going through similar circumstances—or worse—can’t say the same.
In 2024, California State University reported that about 14,000 CSU students received some form of housing assistance during the 2022–2023 academic year. A three-year study published in April by Long Beach’s Center for Equitable Higher Education found that 67% of participants in the College Focused Rapid Rehousing program had at least one episode of “literal homelessness” while enrolled in school. Nine out of 10 reported at least one incident of housing insecurity.
Programs like Toro CARE are valuable but limited resources. For example, Toro CARE policy offers short-term emergency housing for up to 14 days, with space available on a first-come, first-serve basis. After two weeks, residents are expected to transfer to local shelters or permanent housing.
The 14-day policy is standard practice for students who need temporary housing assistance in the Southern California region, according to Toro CARE staff I spoke to for this article.
Rules are rules, sometimes, but making the move from the relative safety and stability of campus emergency housing to a local shelter may be easier said than done. CSUDH refers students to shelters located in the city of Carson or elsewhere in LA, but just signing up can be a challenge. Shelters may require referrals or assessments, and even after checking in, there are curfews and other rules which must be followed.
For Toros seeking safe and secure housing in even a semi-decent area while earning minimum wage, options are scarce in Los Angeles’s notoriously expensive rental market—especially now.
While not an official metric, current market trends reported by Apartments.com report that the average rent for a studio unit in Los Angeles is about $1,700 per month. For a one-bedroom, the cost jumps to almost $2,200—that’s 33% higher than the national average.
Many students at CSUDH attend classes while working full time. Some do this while also navigating family challenges, health issues, financial struggles, and safety concerns.
My experience living in emergency housing this past summer was humbling. I watched students come and go—some were just living day by day, some attended classes or tried to work part time, and some stayed inside all day, hoping their situation would get better. Food was limited and money was tight, but 14 days in emergency housing was better than living in your car or on the street.
Balancing student life while dealing with these stressful situations can affect many students both physically and mentally. Thinking about class, homework and lectures while also trying to secure housing is truly a difficult balance.
I think more could be done by the university to support students experiencing housing insecurity. For students with limited options, the university should consider adding more emergency housing apartments, or at the very least, developing additional plans and resources for students who may become housing insecure.
It should also expand student job opportunities, especially for those facing housing or financial difficulties. Consistent follow-ups and programs focused on life after graduation could also help students prepare for their professional careers.
Again, this may be easier said than done given the university’s current financial state. CSUDH is looking to save money, and dedicating limited resources toward emergency and short-term housing may not necessarily be the school’s top priority.
That conversation is still worth having, I think. If resources can’t be allocated now, having a plan in place for when there is more money, hopefully, would be a proactive effort. Until then, I hope our faculty and staff can dedicate some of their expertise to support students beyond the classroom.
Get personal. Teach not only from required textbooks and lectures, but show us how to navigate society through the career fields we’re paying this university to prepare us for.
Let’s continue to support and be there for one another. Sometimes, it takes more than just a listening ear—it takes real action and resources so that when an emergency strikes, no student is left without a safe place to turn.