UC Santa Cruz proposing rent increase to student housing

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (KION-TV)- As Santa Cruz County continues to be the most expensive place to live. Students at UCSC are also being impacted, the University of Santa Cruz announced a rent increase for family student housing, putting additional financial pressure on student families.

Students say they put 65% of their income towards rent, primarily sourced from university employment as teaching assistance or researchers. One resident explains how the rent increase is a burden.

​​”The fact that the university knows that they’re taking so much of our salary to go towards rent here, it just made me angry, frustrated, upset, and we can’t afford it," LuLing Osofsky a PHD student said. "We can’t afford this and it’s unethical because our apartments are falling apart."

Anonymous students also shared pictures of their living conditions, some of them saying they saw mold, leaks, unsafe sidewalks and even single paned ill-fitting windows.

Students say that many of these problems leave a financial burden on them to pay for these issues.

"It was the third time in three years, I just felt like we have to do something," Osofsky said.

May 20th, the family student housing put out a petition signed by over 400 people against the rent increases that could go into effect on July 1st.

"Melissa my wife, is paid by the university and i have some very part-time work outside of the university as well as some financial aid but at this point it’s just it’s probably cut into other areas," Andrew Wilson an undergrad resident of family student housing said.

The families are asking UCSC to waive the rent increase and to halt future increases until the units are safe and functional. These pictures show some of the serious issues.

“We get mold on the shades because we don’t have a vent in the bathroom, so I have to open the window to make sure the air is flowing," Diana Hernandez a single parent living at UCSC said.

This is a big financial burden on these families and is impacting their ability to cover living expenses in their day to day lives.

“My husband's salary was going to pay for daycare that was about $2000 a month for childcare and my salary was going to rent essentially and so that leaves essentially no money left over," Osofsky said.

Families gathered around 400 student signatures against a rental increase.

"It’s an important chance for us to really band together as neighbors and work together to let the university know that this is unacceptable to us," Osofsky said. "We can't afford this, they need to repair our apartments.

UCSC gives students in family housing a two thousand five hundred dollar stipend but.

“By raising our rent every year they are essentially taking that money back so our rent each time it goes up that $2500 gets smaller and smaller," Osofsky said.

"Our rental rates are determined after a careful review of all related housing expenses. the fees collected are essential for maintaining and improving services such as repairs, maintenance, custodial services, grounds upkeep, night shuttles, it support, personnel costs, community safety, and student programming," UCSC and the Assistant Vice Chancellor said.

The family student housing petition was sent out and they are waiting for a response by the university by Monday, June 3rd.