College launches housing program
LANCASTER — Antelope Valley College students experiencing homelessness will get access to long-term housing and supportive services to facilitate their success through the A Place in Time pilot program established through a partnership between Antelope Valley College, Antelope Valley Partners for Health and the City of Lancaster.
City officials announced the launch of the program
Monday.
“A person’s college years are truly a defining phase in life — it is often the time when we discover our strengths, sharpen our skills, and find opportunities to build a solid
foundation for the rest of our lives,” Mayor R. Rex Parris said. “It is important that every student has access to the resources they need to take advantage of those opportunities. Unfortunately, there are many students who find themselves without a home, which is a setback that a college student shouldn’t have to face. A Place in Time will provide stability and support to ensure that those students get the help they need to experience growth, success, and a brighter future.”
A Place in Time is made possible by an award-winning program that is being reimagined and expanded to respond to the community’s needs. Lancaster will repurpose three existing community homes for this program.
“We are so grateful to work with the City of Lancaster and AV Partners for Health in providing housing to students who otherwise would not have a place to live,” AV College President Ed Knudson said. “The ability to provide basic needs to our students, as well as a support system that champions their journey, makes their success that much more possible.”
AV College will screen students, determine eligibility, provide referrals and offer financial assistance. Students will also have access to AV College Associated Student Organization Hearts and Hands food pantry, tutoring services and other capacity-building opportunities.
AV Partners for Health will manage the homes, provide case management and connect the students to supportive services as needed. This includes helping each student formulate an exit strategy with plans for housing and their next steps in life upon graduation.
“We are very excited to partner in this innovative program that aligns so perfectly with AVPH’s mission to educate, strengthen and advocate for the community through services and partnerships, achieving optimal health and quality of life for AV residents,” AVPH’s Executive Director Michelle Fluke said.
In addition to the partnerships detailed above, other community organizations also came together to help. Pen & Napkin worked diligently to turn these houses into homes, with comfortable furniture and attractive decor, while Serve AV provided a number of essentials to help the students feel at home.
The program launches in time to support students for the summer, as all AV College’s summer 2020 courses will be delivered by remote instruction online. Once the program has been established and refined, the hope is to replicate it in additional Community Homes.
AV College reports having nearly 500 enrolled students who are experiencing homelessness. This pilot program seeks to focus on the individual student and address factors contributing to homelessness. Similar to Kensington Campus, this housing strategy takes a holistic approach to prevent homelessness — this will enable students to experience improvements in their quality of life, while services ensure resources are available to provide opportunities for success.
“With support systems in place, we can address the factors that contribute to homelessness and encourage the college students who are striving to better themselves through education,” Parris said.