CSUB receives grant to provide off-campus housing support

Students can receive help with rent, deposits and other costs

By California State University, Bakersfield

April 7^th, 2025

Freshman Kayla Reyes was so excited when she was able to finally qualify for and secure her first apartment, but that excitement quickly turned into anxiety.

While she had saved money from her part-time job to cover her move-in deposit and first month’s rent, Reyes realized she was going to fall a bit short. She didn’t have quite enough saved up to fully cover the April bill and she didn’t get paid until a few days after it would be due.

“I was extremely stressed. I couldn’t really focus on anything else,” she said.

After seeking help from California State University, Bakersfield’s Center for Accessibility and Essential Needs (CAEN), Reyes was able to receive a grant to help cover her rent expenses as part of a new housing assistance program being offered by the university.

“It was a huge weight off our shoulders,” Reyes said. “I didn’t expect to get so much support. They really went above and beyond. Now I can focus fully on school and not let anything get in the way.”

CSUB received funding from the Chancellor’s Office in February to assist students as part of its College-Focused Rapid Re-Housing Program. The university will receive $400,000 a year for the four-year program, or a total of $1.6 million.

“Housing continues to be a significant challenge not only for our students but for students statewide,” said CAEN Director Dr. Jason Watkins. “This funding gives us the opportunity to provide a little more support to help people not only get housing but stay housed. We know that if students stay housed, they’re more likely to be academically successful.”

The program consists of two main components, one of which is housing-related grants. There are three grants that are available:

A move-in deposit grant for students who have secured housing but need help covering their deposit.
An emergency grant for students who are housed but have experienced an emergency that has impacted their ability to pay rent.
An eviction protection grant for students who are housed but are facing eviction.

The grants are subject to availability and can be requested by filling out a Food and Housing Crisis Report. The grant amount will vary based on need. Students can apply for a grant once per year and must demonstrate they have a long-term plan for financial stability.

The second program component focuses on rental subsidies. The university will partner with a community-based organization, which has yet to be finalized, that will help students get housing and provide financial support for the first several months of their lease.

The program will cover a student’s first month’s rent, after which it will cover 15% less each month until the student is fully paying for the rent. This part of the program will become available later this spring.

“We are going to be working with the students to make sure we are setting them up for financial independence and stability,” Dr. Watkins said. “It’s more than just providing housing. It’s about how are we building those financial literacy skills so that students are set up for long-term success during their time here at CSUB.”

Kaitlyn Angelique Otanes, director of student housing relations for Associated Student Inc., said she’s excited to see the impact the program will have on students.

“I believe this is an excellent resource for students, providing support to ease their burdens and ensuring access to essential basic needs that impact their academic journeys,” she said.

The CSU’s Rapid Re-Housing program first started in 2020 after the passage of Assembly Bill 74, which provided funding for up to eight campuses to develop the program. After the four-year pilot was finished, the university put out a call for proposals for a second round of funding. Now 18 campuses are offering the program, including CSUB.

“The societal issues in our state about access to housing, the availability of housing — those things haven’t gone away,” Dr. Watkins said. “The level of need is significant, and it continues to grow.”

Reyes encourages students to take advantage of the new housing program and said they shouldn’t be afraid of reaching out for assistance.

“Everyone was really kind, and I didn’t feel judged once, which was really important,” she said. “I just want people to know that they don’t need to worry about that. There shouldn’t be any embarrassment. CSUB is willing to help.”

'Making a difference'

To help administer the new housing program, CSUB has hired a housing navigator to serve as students’ first point of contact: Ludy Ortega, who previously worked as a graduate student leader for the Basic Needs Department before it merged with Services for Students with Disabilities earlier this year.

She is graduating from CSUB this spring with her master’s in public administration and holds a bachelor’s degree from the university in liberal studies.

In her new role, Ortega will work with students to make sure they are eligible to receive assistance and help connect them with the resources they need. She will also serve as the liaison between the university and the community-based organization that will provide rental support.

“I’ve never taken on a project as big as this before,” she said. “Even though I was super nervous and scared, I know I’m in really good hands. I think it will help me grow my communication and network-building skills.”

Ortega enjoyed her experience working as a graduate student leader and said that it affirmed her desire to continue working in student service.

“Everywhere I went, I had the opportunity to see a lot of the behind-the-scenes work when it comes to how are universities proactively trying to help students?” she said. “I felt the work we were doing was really making a difference in the students’ lives.”

Dr. Watkins said he was impressed by Ortega’s work with the Basic Needs Department and felt her familiarity with the team would make her a good fit for the housing navigator position.

“As a graduate student leader, she brought a really great energy that was really student focused. She comes from this place of servant leadership, which is hard to teach,” Dr. Watkins said. “She was a no-brainer for this role.”

Ortega said she wanted to work in Basic Needs in part because of her own personal experience. She grew up in a single-parent household along with her sister. Her mother struggled to provide for their family on the low wages she made working in the fields.

“I did live those food insecurity and housing instability issues that a lot of students face,” she said. “It made me want to push even further and be more intentional in my work.”

Ortega said it was hard for her mom to request assistance and resources, given that she didn’t speak English and worked full time. But she remembers the people who made sure her mom got the help she needed.

“There was always somebody who was willing to go the extra mile for my mom. Sometimes they would come to our house,” Ortega said. “Had those individuals not seen my mom’s situation and try to accommodate her, I don’t know where we would have ended up.”

Ortega now wants to give back by being the person people can come to for help.

“I try to remember where I came from and never let that go,” she said. “People are going through these challenges every day, and I want to be there for them. I want to be in a position or a field that helps people, where I can see directly how my work affects people in a positive way.”

Ortega acknowledges that it’s not always easy for students to come forward and admit they need help, but she aims to provide encouragement during her interactions with them.

“I try to put myself in their shoes and be as welcoming as possible,” she said. “When a student comes to us, I just hope I can be what they need in that moment and connect them to where they need to be.”

While Ortega hasn’t held a position before with this much responsibility, she is excited for the challenge and believes she has the support she needs from Dr. Watkins and the rest of the CAEN team to be successful.

“My education has built a great foundation, but I know I have a lot more to learn,” she said. “Experience is the best teacher. It’s one thing to sit in the classroom and go over theory and practicum, but once you’re actually out there, it’s different. It really is an honor and a privilege to be able to do this work.”

'We're transforming students' lives'

While Ortega gets accustomed to her new position, Basic Needs Coordinator Mariela Vega has been taking the lead in connecting students with the help they need. She also helps connect students with on-campus housing and other resources.

“It has been meaningful and rewarding experience,” Vega said. “Each student brings with them unique challenges. I have been able to listen to their stories, get an understanding of where they’re coming from and come up with creative solutions that are tailored to the needs of the student. There’s always an opportunity for me to build trust and a relationship with them.”

Vega said she’s excited that CSUB will be able to provide more help to students as part of the new housing program.

“It’s great we were able to receive more funds to continue supporting students,” she said. “I know that this work is meaningful. We’re transforming the students’ lives with the support we provide, and that serves as great motivation. We know once they graduate, they’re going to go out into the community and do amazing work.”

While the program is in its early stages, Dr. Watkins is looking forward to seeing what kind of short- and long-term effects the Rapid Re-Housing program will have on students and the university as a whole.

Given the increasing availability and cost issues with housing in Kern County and across the state, he expects there are many CSUB students who could benefit from the program.

“If we want students to continue to stay engaged and enrolled in the campus, I think a greater level of support has got to be provided,” he said. “This is one of the ways we can do it. If we can provide some housing support to take that worry off, then it helps them do everything else they’re trying to do.”