The presidents of four Seattle-area universities and colleges have joined forces to declare May 13-17 as Affordable Housing Week on their campuses.<\/p>\n
John R. Mosby, president of Highline College; Daniel J. Martin, president of Seattle Pacific University; Stephen V. Sundborg, S.J., president of Seattle University; and Ana Mari Cauce, president of University of Washington, have signed proclamations or otherwise affirmed the importance of safe, healthy, affordable homes in communities of opportunity.<\/p>\n
The higher-education institutions join King County and 25 King County cities in recognizing the benefits of affordable housing to everyone in the community.<\/p>\n
Nationwide, 12 percent of community college students and 9 percent of university students are homeless, according to a national survey of 43,000 college students by Wisconsin HOPE Lab<\/a>, summarized in an April 2018 report. The survey also found that 36 percent of university and 46 percent of community college students are housing insecure.<\/p>\n Students in South King County are also hit hard by lack of affordable housing, according to data from Washington school districts<\/a>. During the 2017–18 school year, 3,737 students in the Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Kent, Renton, and Tukwila school districts identified as homeless, up from 3,488 the year before.<\/p>\n To explore their role in addressing homelessness, local universities are hosting a first-time conference, “Higher Ed on Homelessness: Collaborating for Change,” Friday, May 10, in Seattle. About 75 to 100 faculty, staff and graduate students from more than 10 area higher-ed institutions will share their research, teaching, service learning, community engagement and advocacy best practices. The conference is hosted by Seattle Pacific University, Seattle University and University of Washington.<\/p>\n