Most often when we think of college our brains wander to the idea of frat parties, living off ramen noddles, and being late to class. However, the expensive cost of college cannot go unnoticed. For example, college expenses consists of textbook costs, room and board, and more. For other students being homelessness is a reality. While it may be believed that being vagrant only effects those in the lower-class, the issue has now been spread across the working-class, and middle-class students.
Students from schools such as The University of California, Los Angeles, and a local community college attend a local church for a place to sleep, eat, and study. Just in 2015 – 2016 32,000 applicants from California State University were found to be “unaccompanied homeless youth”. From these students it was estimated that eight to twelve percent of students from the same university were found to be without shelter. Not being able to find high paying jobs is also a rising issue for students who look to pursue a job. Eighty-seven percent of students surveyed made less than fifteen dollars a hour. From the average salary being $3340 in New York City and $3590 in San Fransisco, earning less than fifteen dollars is not a way to survive with other expenses. On average community college students are over the age of twenty-nine, and the shame of telling parents of their living situations is a harsh reality for students. More importantly, once the question comes up of who is going to pay for college, parents’ or guardians’ salary is a topic of discussion. In New York City, LaGuardia Community College has an average family income of 23,000. Allocating this money into school, food, and rent or mortgage and impossible on such an income.
The harsh realization of numerous expenses kicks in once learning that some students must forfeit a home to gain knowledge. These students are true examples of dedication and should never go unnoticed because they are advocates of pursuing aspirations regardless of the obstacle.
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