March 20, 2022

The Honorable Kevin McCarty
Assemblymember, 7th District
State Capitol, Room 2136
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Reclaim Coalition Support for Assembly Bill 1602

Dear Assemblymember Kevin McCarty,

The Reclaim California’s Public Higher Education Coalition represents employee and student organizations across all three segments of California’s public higher education systems. We  would like to convey our support for Assembly Bill 1602, which would provide much-needed funding for efforts to alleviate California’s housing crisis for students and employees at California’s colleges and universities.

The housing shortage is a crisis across the state, but it is a particular issue for young adults just starting their lives, working low paying jobs, and burdened with the added costs of attending college or university.

We also appreciate that AB 1602 has provision for building student, staff, and faculty housing. Employees at California’s colleges and universities are often rent burdened (paying more than 30 percent of their household income on rent – we have heard stories of employees paying as much as 90 percent of their income on rent).

And we agree with the demand in this proposed legislation that housing built through the provisions of this act must be offered at below local market rental rates.

The Reclaim Coalition strongly supports AB 1602 and thanks you for being a champion on this important issue.

Sincerely,

Jonathan Abboud, Reclaim Coalition President

cc: Senator Monique Limón