Chancellor’s Office Releases Affordable Student Housing Grant Application Materials

Today the Chancellor’s Office released the application materials for the Affordable Student Housing Grant Program. Materials were updated to reflect statutory changes to the program adopted earlier this year, as well as a revised application process developed by the Chancellor’s Office, who is the program's new Administering Entity for community colleges.

Cover Memo

Click here to view the cover memo from Interim Deputy Chancellor Dr. Lizette Navarette, with information on the 2023 application rounds.

Application Materials

Click here to view the Chancellor’s Office Affordable Student Housing website. Scroll down to “22-23 California Community Colleges Affordable Student Housing Grant” for links to application materials.

Initial Highlights

Submission Timelines:

• January 25, 2023: Round Two construction grant applications are due.
• Summer 2023: Round Two construction applications will be considered and may be awarded in the 2023-24 state budget.
• July 3, 2023: Round Three construction grant applications are due.
• Summer 2024: Round Three construction applications will be considered and may be awarded in the 2024-25 state budget.

CCFC note: 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. There are no statutory commitments to fund additional student housing projects after that time. In the coming months, we will have a better sense as to whether the promise to fund projects in FY 23-24 will be realized, based on the priorities of the new Legislature and the state’s economic conditions. CCFC will advocate to maintain the funding commitment to this program.

Scoring Rubric:

See “ASH Student Housing Scoring Rubric” for more information on the evaluation process. A project will have a possible composite score of up to 100 points, based on six statutorily-prescribed evaluation criteria plus four criteria established by the Chancellor’s Office as the administering entity.

For two of the evaluation criteria (state funding per bed for low-income students and geographic location), projects will be evaluated in comparison to other projects within their region, based on Strong Workforce Regions.

Other Notes:

• One application per district – Districts are told to “select their highest priority student housing project and submit only one application per district, including any intersegmental student housing project.”
• FUSION – A new module is being created in FUSION to facilitate the submission of Affordable Student Housing Grant applications.
• Selection Process – The Chancellor’s Office memo is clear to remind applicants that “the California Legislature has final authority over selection of applications and will include appropriations for successful applicants in the annual Budget Act.”
• 2022 Grant Recipients – For districts that received student housing program funding in the FY 2022-23 Budget Act, allocations “will be distributed via the Apportionment process in November 2022.”

Rebekah Cearley
CCFC Legislative Advocate