The University of California in Santa Cruz (UCSC) is in a housing crisis. This crisis isn't new either. It has been going on for years, and instead of fixing this issue, we are making it worst. The university is in too much of a deficit to build new dormitories or colleges; therefore, less students can live on campus. More students now have to live off campus; therefore, housing prices go up. We have a consistent chain of students struggling to figure out housing. It is common to find many students in Santa Cruz couch surfing or living in a garage temporarily because that is all they can afford and is all that is available. Most students who attend the university are full-time students. They can't afford to work a full-time job and still make it by as students. Being a student is their number one priority. But, trying to find comfortable, let alone housing in general, is an added stress to the student body.

The UC system is needy

The UC system wants to allow another 650 students to enter UCSC this coming year. But what the UC system doesn't seem to realize is that Santa Cruz can't physically fit a larger population of students, unless they want their students to go homeless.

We then chose to blame the incoming students

It is unfortunate that we all blame the 650 incoming students as if it is their fault we are going to be struggling with housing even more. As it does become questionable where we will house all the current students, we can't blame the incoming students from coming here. They are just as deserving as the UCSC student body to come here.

The cost for living is extraneous

According to the Santa Cruz Sentinel 2015 statistics, "The average cost of a two-bedroom rental home in March was $2,211, up 2.5 percent in a year and up 25 percent in six years, according to a survey by UC Santa Cruz, where enrollment last fall was 17,900."

Consider those couch surfers

There are many students who couch surf. There are many students, who I've talked to, who find out they can't sleep on their friend's couch any longer, and they need to find housing. Therefore, not only do these students have to worry about finding a place to sleep, but also study and do well in their classes.

Many students are homeless in Santa Cruz

There are also many students who don't have a house at all, but instead live in the forest, in their cars or in 24 hour facilities on campus. Then, these students are expected to come to school and do just as well as everyone else.

It's a simple game of economics

Think of supply and demand. Since there is little housing available to fit students in Santa Cruz, landlords can raise prices, which makes housing only affordable for the richer students. Ergo, the rich continue to prosper as the poor fail.

What about adversity?

Little does the university recognize, the adversity of the student body. Little does the system understand the unneeded stress students currently have looking for housing.

I have had my own experiences looking for housing at UCSC

I have been looking for housing for more than three months now. It isn't cheap or easy. For many, sharing a room with another student is somewhere between $500-$1000 a person. Keep in mind, this doesn't usually include utilities. But looking for housing was an unneeded stress for me. Oh, how I wish I could live on campus next year. As someone who struggles with anxiety and being on time, living off-campus will be an unneeded stressor.

Despite the housing crisis, let's look at housing positively

The housing crisis, will allow students to prove to themselves that they can fight and survive adversity. By proving you can succeed in school and finding a place to sleep, it only shows that each and every one of you is strong.

Good luck slugs!