I'm 36, never married, homeless since the pandemic, and living in an old Toyota Sienna minivan now, despite working, and not addicted to drugs. Society is broken.

They don't build Working Class neighborhoods. And then complain about the people living in cars. Typical day in California.

As a Cali college student currently homeless it is beyond heartbreaking that nothing is being done about it

15 years ago, I was a homeless student at UC San Diego. I paid $250 monthly to sleep in a walk-in closet and didn't even have a key to the apartment. If it weren't for the degree I earned there, I never would have afforded a house in California, nor got married and had a daughter. It was a rough ride along the way, though. We need to help these poor college kids.

With all the tuition students are paying, the universities should be looking out for their students.

The school should provide a safe place to park for the kids with access to the gym. And maybe charge a reasonable tuition.

“Finding a place to exist…” I felt that. People just don’t have compassion for others anymore.

People who are not in your situation never truly understand your struggle They are the first ones to comment and judge

The school should provide safe parking for its students!!

While Politicians are sending Billions to other countries

Wages remained stagnant while home and rent prices sky rocketed how tf are we supposed to survive in this economy ? Unless your making more than 100k a year you wouldn't understand how bad we lower and middle class people are struggling the power bill keeps increasing

This isn’t surprising at all

Meanwhile, There are a lot of Wall Street owned apartments staying empty. They don’t want to lower price to rent it out. Government needs to stay afloat, it can not let house price collapse.

So relatable. I’m currently pursuing my ASN (Associate in Nursing) and homeless in ATL,Georgia. I start my clinical rotations June 26 and am beyond optimistic and apprehensive. Unfortunate to see but reassuring to witness that I’m not alone in my experience with navigating homelessness while pursuing higher education.

They seem like time travelers from 1970.

People deserve homes. Governments are failing them and us, universities must do better.

I was unhorsed on and off in college. Financial aid isn’t enough for what they charge for the dorms, same as rent. Everything is too high and there’s not enough aid, and not enough sympathy from people who have money who aren’t going through it themselves.

That RV looks better than some apartments wth I should open an RV business.

Blessings good luck and homes for all these students

I used the pantry while in medical school at Anshultz Medical Campus….denver is extremely expensive. Hated it. I transferred school and basically started over in a smaller and more family Friendly area and life is awesome Now. Not everything is big city. Have the courage to stop and start and find greener pastures. No need to be homeless in that stage of life. Or at all, period.

Tuition costs and the cost of housing are insane in California. Don't get me started on high-interest student loans either.

"At the end of the day that sucks." I hear you, brother.

Unfortunately MOST living in RVs are NOT students and have ruined it for everyone living on wheels. I rented a room from a family with no kitchen privileges when I went to college 44 years ago, worked part time school full time.

I'm glad we no longer have homeless people. now we have people who are experiencing homelessness.

I totally agreed. We are in deep crisis.

This is not homelessness. It seems the issue is more about where these students can park and for how long. These students live in RV's, and there is nothing wrong with that. This lifestyle is a choice. I personally choose to live this way to be liberated from the stress of paying rent or a mortgage, along with increasingly high bills. It's a simpler lifestyle, but it is not for everyone. I am a minimalistic person who prioritizes my happiness. I've lived in all kinds of properties during my lifetime, even luxury properties, and I found myself so unhappy because it made me feel stuck or trapped. I enjoy feeling free from that and the toxic environment it can be to live in a typical neighborhood.

I went to UC Davis and we had students that lived in tents 😢

Wow - 😮 what tenacious college students!!! So sorry our society is not more encouraging of your admirable goals. Mind blowing 🤯 😳

There's a huge difference between people choosing to live this way to save a few bucks and people living this way because they have no other option. These people are clearly choosing to live this way (#vanlife). I didn't hear one of them talk about any real struggles they experience or express fear about being made to drop out because the cost is more than they can bear. I'd prefer to hear from the students who have no other option.

So true. I told the very, very senior age members of my Lions Club, the largest Service Club in the world, about the college cost crisis, giving hard facts, and they had no clue how severe the costs are.

There is no point in living in a state that will steal a large percentage of your living wage that could go towards a vehicle, home, and tour retirement funds.

I’m in Cali , I’m slightly homeless. I own a home but I can’t afford to live in it, so I rent it out. I live in an illegal garage by pure grace . I almost had nothing when I lost my vehicle in a car accident. Cali is rough and the drug addiction is getting worse around me 😢

I thought about being homeless for a while and realized I couldn't afford it. They literally ticket you for not having a home even when you are just in your vehicle smh. And getting your degree is a gamble because it won't guarantee you a job and can even disqualify you for one. Minimum wage employers don't value it even if you just want to work to afford your bills its best where I'm from to take it off your resume. Just sad and sick.

Housing in CA is outrageous

Poor kids

I go through this in another state. I had to be with my family which triggers major health issues.

That is a great point she made at the end- they are their living I their RVs because they really want to be able to keep going to college and it’s the only they can afford to do this. That’s how much their education means to them even though the costs are exorbitant and they made still struggle financially afterwards. Colleges don’t have to be so expensive and room and board on top of that does not need to that expensive either.

The university should provide a parking lot for them... there are plenty of parking lots all around campus!

If you choose to put off working for a living to be an adult student, your choice of off campus housing is not news worthy.

Then they say “everyone in America should be able to make it on their own merit” and “if you are poor it’s your fault” smh this is systemic

CBS News is really throwing shade at the CSU system with this.

I didn’t go to college until I had cash to pay. My husband the same as he served 6 years NAVY to get GI bill. We struggled but paid as we went first him then myself. I worked when my children were in college to pay their tuition ( in California where we live ) and told them they have 4 years that’s it figured it out. I made them work part time to pay other expenses and told them not to get in debt . We need to educate young people in high school about debt and waiting for what you want until you have cash .

Cal poly Humboldt recently kicked kids living in motor homes off their campus parking lots.

Many colleges offer a free on campus gym membership to students. Students can use the gym locker room to shower if available.

This point no one will be able to afford homes anymore, especially in California:/

This is one of the reasons why I never continued my education after high school. Being able to go to college is so stupidly expensive there's no way I'd ever be able to pay for it, even 'with' a job. And I'm not a huge fan of being in debt for the rest of my life after graduating college :/

At least those RVs are running, insured, and the driver has valid license.

Does student housing not exist anymore?

Colleges should only be allowed to enroll the numbers of students they’re able to house. Why is this any different?!

Those camper vans looks cozy for students. Better than the uni accommodation. But why can’t they park on the uni campus?

Wow this is really sad. CA taxes and GDP are among the highest in the US. Where is that money going?

College tuition is out off control. If they are going to charge that much, housing should be included.

I honestly wouldn’t mind this, I hate having too much space around me. It stresses me out, less cleaning also

It's messed up that the college is willing to accept the students'payment for tuition, but not allow them to park on campus. Every student is required to have their vehicle registered with the college in order to receive a parking permit; therefore, the college would be able to easily identify if a camper/van/bus parked on campus belonged to a student or just some other random homeless person, if they really felt the need to police the situation; they could easily shoo off those who weren't actually attending classes at that college, or any other college for that matter, in order to keep the overnight parking to a minimum. It seems to me that the real issue for the college (s), is that, aside from being a "business" like any other, whose sole purpose is to make money, not necessarily educate, is that they don't want to endure a bad reputation for being an institution that charges exorbitant costs so that students cannot afford to go to school and keep a standard living situation at the same time. They care more about what this says about them as an institution rather than the well-being of the students. And/or, they would rather the students pay even more money on "student housing", than have the students living in their vehicles. In fairness to the institution however, as a former college student and college employee, I can see where the college might be concerned about liability issues if they do not have overnight security patrolling the campus. I do know however what it's like to have become homeless while attending college and having to finish out a semester while living in my car, motels, and eventually the shelter-it's difficult. I can only say that the major issue we face as a culture as it relates to this topic, aside from the high cost of education, is the outrageous cost of living as it pertains to affordable housing for all.

I'd be worried about the woman on the bus late night😢

California..what a shock , should of stayed home with mom and dad

Where are their parents? Are they not in contact with them?

They should not have to deal with that when having to focus on studies!

The camper is being than the $10-12 thousand of dollar dorm every semester

Good for those two! Get/earn that college degrees! I lived in my car just to pay off student loans and I don't regret it! Trying to better yourself by going to college is F'ing insane now a days!

Brad looks so sad.

Just another reason to leave California.

How in the hell did those kids afford an rv

Lower tuition instead of just cancelling debt, stupid policies, stupid government, stupid politicians, democracy self destruction

The Golden state is now Bronze! A very sad state of affairs.

Living in an unsafe place at night and the choice is creative? I know it's hard without self-justification, but you have to face it.

Tough times for sure. Go to college and get a degree that will get give you an opportunity for work. Nothing is guaranteed, but do your homework. Colleges should hand out MREs. No joke here.

That turned education into a commodity what did you expect

Make housing affordable, it’s not fair those students

The cop said they have to move in 3 days, that's fine .. move the camper 50 or 100ft then it's now in a different spot.

This is very sad. When California does too much it's a nanny state...when California doesn't do enough....shame..its a double edge sword.

I'll be damned if would live in a car working a job . Rather quit and be a real bum . At least no work stress

There should a designated place for RV and trailers to park. Cal poly is a very expensive school. I’m surprised there isn’t ample parking.

It’s just a big shame that society, community, nor government won’t support future generations of good smart motivated kids like here in this clip.

Why can’t they just live on campus or have the university help them finebhouaing

Wow! Crazy statistics. This is so sad. They should have the true college experience.

Wait, living in your own RV does not = homeless. These students are wisely not racking up their debt. But the college s SHOULD provide RV sites.

These stories are not exaggerations, and it’s not like the universities aren’t trying. But they always go up against “environmentalists” who are really just NIMBYists who do everything they can to block new construction. Even the governor has been sounding the alarm and has tried some innovative things to increase housing and lower costs, but he gets blocked at almost every turn.

I believe that California colleges should provide an area where students who attend there college can park. Just like colleges have dorms, why can't colleges provide a parking spot that's well lit with a bathroom building with showers included for the students. These students pay expensive tuition to attend the college so why can't this be done. Times are changing, students can't afford expensive form fees or expensive student apartments. Why can't colleges go with the changes and help these students who are living in there cars?

misleading. They are Technically in housed but practically they are not homeless. Possible solutions for these students are very different from students who have to fight for shelter beds, find a couch or park bench to crash on. A reasonable solution would be to create a designated area for students in RV or campers and celebrate their resourcefulness.

Our leaders borrowing money to send overseas. We have 34 trillion dollars in ddebt fyi.

Why can't the government--local or national--do something about landlords and apartment complexes raising rent??? And why is it only storage unit buildings being built and not affordable housing for lower income people? My city has tons of empty buildings just sitting around that makes me just so mad.

Free housing, free water, free food preferably MacDonalds, should be the norm. Make everything volunteer based, with food accessible to everyone. Volunteering has never been more reliable source of work force.

novel idea: uc and state schools stop increasing enrollment every year ... adding 25-35k transient kids year to year to an area with a 70k pop is going to mess up local housing

TAX THESE COLLEGES WITH BILLION DOLLAR ENDOWMENTS

Higher education is a joke in the 21st century, teens need to stop putting themselves in debt so middle age professors can have a job.

The root cause of these homelessness issue is very simple. Not enough housing. Why do we not have enough? Because people make it difficult to build. They will protest, delay, pass all kinds of laws to prevent new housing development. There is plenty of storage facilities, those have no issue getting built, but if you want to build an apartment complex of the same size in the same area, the neighbors will do everything to block it. We have plenty of vacant commercial space, lots of big box stores and malls shutdown, plenty of parking lots and parking structures mostly empty for years and years. Why can't we build there. Because of zoning laws and minimum parking requirements.

Blame the arrogant yuppies!

This is sad

A lot of biases are just fundamental errors of judgement where it becomes easier to point the finger at another and hide in ones ego rather than address the actual underlying issue at hand

Is that a captain’s hat?

I dont ubderstand how can you be homeless colleges provide tuition for toom and board

Wtf no dorm????

Arnt there doorms in a afordable price?

Why don’t they live home with family, work part-time, School part time … they make no sense

1/10 is a completely low number and gaslighting from the media again it’s more like 5/10 that are homeless…

Don’t pick majors that don’t make six figures. If your dream career doesn’t make you money don’t choose it. It’s better to be employed than homeless

Skid Row be damned, I guess homelessness not serious in CA until it affects “pretty”white kids?

1.5 million?????(

That’s the California way!