Student Housing Grant Program Update: Guidance & DRAFT Application Materials

The Chancellor’s Office is preparing a memo to provide guidance on the next application round of the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program established by SB 169 (2021). The memo is not yet available, but it is anticipated to be released within the next two weeks. It should provide details on the upcoming application cycle and project scoring criteria. The memo is being developed in conjunction with the Affordable Student Housing Taskforce, which advises the Chancellor’s Office on the implementation of the student housing grant program.

Funds Available

The 2022 Budget Act stated intent to provide $750 million General Fund for new student housing construction grants in FY 23-24 for the three higher education segments. These funds are in addition to the $1.43 billion provided in FY 22-23 for construction grants. In the coming months, we will have a better sense as to whether this promise will be realized, based on the priorities of the new Legislature and the state’s economic conditions. 

The Chancellor’s Office is requesting $900 million for student housing construction grants as part of its FY 23-24 system budget request. While state officials have indicated that revenues are down approximately $7 billion from budgeted projections through September 2022, it remains to be seen whether this trend will continue and how prior budgetary commitments may be affected. CCFC will advocate to maintain the funding commitment to this program.

Application Cycle Dates

The Chancellor’s Office is now the administering agency for community college student housing projects funded by the SB 169 grant program. While preliminary, the Chancellor’s Office has identified the following DRAFT application timelines:

• January 25, 2023: Round two construction grant applications are due.
• July 15, 2023: Round two construction applications will be awarded in the 2023-24 California budget. (Proposed)
• July 3, 2023: Round three construction grant applications are due.
• July 15, 2024: Round three construction applications will be awarded in the 2024-25 California budget package. (Proposed)

Construction Applications

The Chancellor’s Office has provided a DRAFT overview of the documents required for a complete student housing construction grant application. This includes (but is not limited to) documents such as the DF-151 Capital Outlay Budget Change Proposal, the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program Supplemental Application Form, JCAF 31 (Analysis of Building Space Use), JCAF 32 (Cost Summary), JCAF 33 (Equipment Cost), and more. The Chancellor’s Office is also recommending “an exhibit that demonstrates that the district has assessed the total cost of ownership of developing and maintaining affordable student housing facilities as well as developing and operating the program for students.”

The Chancellor’s Office is developing a FUSION module for student housing projects. They are also developing a tool to assist with determining the total cost of ownership for student housing projects. 

Please click here for more information on the proposed application documents (see page 8), presented at the Affordable Student Housing Taskforce meeting on October 14, 2022. Please note that this list is not final and is subject to change.

DRAFT Scoring Rubric

The Chancellor’s Office is developing the scoring rubric to evaluate applications. While details are still under development, the Chancellor’s Office is considering a possible total 100 points, broken out across numerous scoring metrics, including those prescribed by the program statute as well as additional criteria developed by the Chancellor’s Office. Some will likely have a sliding scale of available points. Please note: These scoring metrics and proposed points are subject to change and are not final. 

Proposed scoring metrics based on statutory requirements (65 total points):

• State funding per bed for low-income students. (Proposed Points: 15)
  Rental fees for low-income students that are lower than the rental computation provided in Education Code Section 17201(f)(2)(A). (Proposed Points: 10) [This metric will examine how far proposed rents are below the statutory rent cap based on Area Median Income.]
• Prepared to begin project construction by December 31 in the year the grant is awarded, or earliest possible date thereafter in the subsequent calendar year. (Proposed Points: 10)
• Geographic location. (Proposed Points: 10)
  Reapplication with a project proposal that was previously deemed ineligible. (Proposed Points: 5)
• Unmet demand for housing as determined by number of students waitlisted for student housing OR unmet demand for housing as determined by county rental vacancy rates. (Proposed Points: 15)

Proposed scoring metrics developed by the Chancellor’s Office (35 total points):

• Project will be implemented in partnership with another California public postsecondary institution. (Proposed Points: 10)
• Augments the cost of constructing a housing project and student housing program through partnership(s) or securing additional funding. (Proposed Points: 10)
• Ancillary services will be included in the scope of the housing project. (Proposed Points: 5)
• Regions of High Need. (Proposed Points: 5)
• Cost of living (rent). (Proposed Points: 5)

CCFC will share additional information once the scoring rubric and other application details are finalized.

Rebekah Cearley
CCFC Legislative Advocate