A groundbreaking bill moving through the California State Legislature seeks to provide a legal and safe way for homeless college students to sleep in their vehicles on campus. Authored by Assemblymember Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley), Assembly Bill 90 would require public colleges and universities across the state to establish designated “safe parking” areas, where unhoused students can sleep overnight in their cars without fear of being cited or removed.
Jackson, who represents a district in Southern California’s Inland Empire, says the bill is a direct response to the state’s ongoing housing crisis, which has disproportionately affected students. Rent in California is nearly 30% higher than the national average, and with student housing in short supply, more college students are finding themselves living in vehicles, couch-surfing, or sleeping in unsafe conditions. Jackson emphasizes that the bill is not a permanent fix, but a necessary stopgap while broader housing solutions are developed.
“This is about dignity and safety,” Jackson says. “Students who are striving for a better future shouldn’t be punished for being poor or housing-insecure. AB 90 offers a humane, practical option while we work on long-term strategies to solve this crisis.”
Assembly Bill 90 would require colleges and universities to offer secure, monitored parking zones for overnight stays, along with basic amenities such as restroom access, lighting, and security personnel. Schools would also need to coordinate support services like counseling and housing referrals to help students transition into more stable living arrangements.
The model for the bill is not untested. Long Beach City College launched a similar safe parking initiative in 2021, which was met with praise from student advocates and homeless service providers. The program allowed students to park in a secure lot overnight, where they had access to facilities and case management services. Jackson now wants to replicate and scale that model statewide.
Despite growing awareness about student homelessness, Jackson acknowledges that AB 90 has faced resistance — notably from within the higher education community itself. “The pushback isn’t coming from students or the public,” he says. “It’s coming from colleges and universities concerned about liability, image, and logistical implementation.”
University administrators have voiced concerns about legal risks, public perception, and the costs associated with setting up such facilities. Some argue that allowing students to sleep in cars could normalize homelessness rather than solve it. However, advocates for student welfare insist that the choice isn’t between homelessness and a dorm bed — for many students, it’s between sleeping in a car safely or sleeping on the street.
AB 90 has already passed out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee and is now under review in the Appropriations Committee, where lawmakers will assess the fiscal implications. If it passes, California would become the first state in the nation to mandate safe parking accommodations specifically for college students.
California has the largest homeless population in the U.S., with over 180,000 unhoused individuals, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. A 2023 report from the California Student Aid Commission found that roughly 1 in 5 California community college students experienced homelessness in the previous year. The bill’s supporters argue that the state must act boldly to protect students who are most at risk of falling through the cracks.
“This is a reflection of our priorities,” says Jackson. “If we say education is the key to opportunity, then we must ensure our students have somewhere safe to sleep while pursuing that opportunity.”
