AB 1995 allows homeless students in good standing to shower at community colleges
SACRAMENTO — In a bill close to his heart, Assemblyman Das Williams has authored AB 1995, which would require California Community College campuses to allow homeless students who are enrolled in coursework, have paid tuition fees, and are in good standing with the community college district, to take showers on campus.
The Assembly approved AB 1995 on concurrence this week and it is now headed to the governor’s office for his signature.
“I was once homeless while attending community college, so I personally know what it feels like to be desperate for a shower before attending classes,” Williams said. “Students are less likely to attend class if they have not showered and they can feel insecure about their personal hygiene and appearance.”
Current community college policies deny students access to the school’s showers if he or she is not enrolled in a physical education department course.
Data available from the 2015 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) show that 58,000 college students are homeless nationwide, up from 47,200 in 2009. California has the highest rate of homeless youth in the nation and twice the rate of homeless students than the national average.
“Homeless students already have many obstacles to overcome,” Williams said. “This bill removes one barrier against learning for a vulnerable population and may reduce dropout rates for those students.”
Website: www.asm.ca.gov/Williams
