For college students, once May ends and finals are over, they get to go back to their homes to be with their families and start summer break, but for some students, there is no home to go back to. This is the reality for many CUNY students. At the end of the school semester, comes the dread of working multiple jobs and finding the next place to sleep.

A 2019 survey from the Hope Center found that 14 percent of CUNY undergraduates experienced homelessness in a given year and during the pandemic these numbers will continue to grow due to the loss of jobs as well as personal circumstances such as fleeing abusive households or because many were homeless before they even started college. How can students get an education when all they can focus on is working to make ends meet and trying to provide for themselves living day by day, never knowing what will come next?

As a college student, I found my housing through dormitories–from late August of the fall semester through late July of the summer semester, I would be staying in an overpriced student apartment, maxing out loans, just to feel like I had a place to stay for a few months. This also includes working two jobs to be able to pay off the remains of my rent and for household essentials. Despite the lengthy stay, there was always a month in between in which everyone was forced to leave and I couldn’t even afford a place to live for that month because my dorms would constantly keep me in debt due to the high rates and added-on late fees. As a CUNY student, I had no one to speak to about these issues but I was lucky enough to have a counselor to talk about the stress I was going through. However, when it came to finding a way to have a more stable housing situation, there was no one available on my CUNY campus who was well-versed in my situation to speak to.

I support NY bills S4247/S4248 and A4209, which would help students who need campus support to assist SUNY and CUNY students experiencing homelessness by designating liaison officers on campuses and creating systems for students experiencing homelessness to access support services and other resources available to the students. SUNY and CUNY students experiencing homelessness could then have the support system they need not to fall behind and find a sense of stability within the higher education system. For those who want to help the cause, amplify your voice by sending an email to your local legislator.

Jessilyn Morales is a junior at Lehman College in the Bronx. She is currently a History major with a minor in Women’s Studies and Youth Services. She has been working as a College and Career Bridge Coach for two years with CUNY’s K-16 Initiatives and plans to stay within the program throughout college to help high school graduates pursue a post-secondary plan. She is pursuing a career in Museum Studies and Education and aspires to make a change for students within the NYC education system. Jessilyn is passionate about issues related to education and accessibility for students. She grew up in the Bronx, where underfunding of schools is a major issue and hopes to bridge the gap for students who do not have the resources to advance further in their academic careers. She intends to use the skills and knowledge gained through the Young Advocates Program in her future profession to help struggling college students like herself and hopefully make a change within the system.