Authors: Cassandra Kellum, Kimberly Tabora, Nicole Hudson, Shelby Williams, & Robyn Gargan
Research Question
How do unhoused UCSB students in Isla Vista experience and navigate housing insecurity, and how does it impact their academic success and well being?
Background
The aim of this project is to document and center the lived experiences of UCSB students navigating homelessness and housing insecurity in Isla Vista. While national research shows that student homelessness is a growing issue, there is limited qualitative research focused on the specific realities students face in this community. Through student interviews and personal narratives, this project seeks to understand how unhoused students manage daily life—such as couch surfing, living in cars, or staying temporarily with friends—and how housing instability affects their academic performance, mental health, and sense of belonging. By amplifying these stories, the project aims to increase visibility around student homelessness in Isla Vista and contribute to conversations about housing justice and student support.
Significance
Research and reports show that college student homelessness is a growing issue nationwide, especially in high cost rental markets. Studies have found that a significant percentage of college students experience housing insecurity or homelessness during their academic careers. Research on housing in Isla Vista highlights extreme rent prices, overcrowding, and limited availability due to the area’s small geographic size and dependence on private landlords. Reports from University of California, Santa Barbara and local journalism indicate that students often face unstable leases, couch surfing, living in cars, or temporarily staying in hotels when they cannot secure housing.
While there is national data on student homelessness, there is limited qualitative research focused specifically on unhoused UCSB students in Isla Vista. We do not fully understand how students navigate daily survival, how housing insecurity affects their academic performance and mental health, or how stigma shapes whether they seek support. There is also limited visibility around students who are technically enrolled full time but living in cars, rotating between friends’ places, or facing short term displacement between leases.
These experiences show that housing insecurity is shaped by high rents, scarce student housing, and uneven institutional support. Naming this issue encourages universities, policymakers, and community partners to build better systems that help students stay safe, stable, and supported by their education.
Data and Methods
This project uses a mixed methods approach combining quantitative and qualitative data. Qualitative data comes from student narratives describing lived experiences of housing insecurity in Isla Vista. Quantitative information comes from student housing surveys, public reports, and existing research on housing affordability among college students. Together, these sources help illustrate both the scale of the issue and how students navigate housing instability in their daily life.
Student Stories
Syd, 20 – UCSB Student
What led to your housing situation?
“I found out there was black mold in my house. We told the landlord multiple times, but they kept delaying inspections and saying they’d ‘look into it.’ It got bad enough that I didn’t feel safe living there anymore, so I had to leave and start staying with friends.”
How did the situation affect your routine as a college student?
“It made school a lot harder. If I wasn’t in class, I was in the library until it closed. I didn’t have the luxury of doing work in my home, and all of the people that let me stay with them had at least 8 people in the house running in and out all day, making it impossible to focus.”
What emotional impact did the experience have on you?
“It was really stressful and I felt so much shame. I just felt like I was constantly inconveniencing people.“
How has this experience changed how you think about housing?
“It really put into perspective that even if you’re doing everything “right”, you can still end up without a place to live because of things outside your control.”
Welcome to Isla Vista’ Episode 2: Student Stories, 1954-2016 – The Santa
Barbara Independent. After listening to Episode 2 of the Isla Vista podcast by Christina McDermott:
The opening of the university in Goleta in the 1950s transformed Isla Vista from a sparsely populated and semi rural area into a student housing opportunity. In 1954, Isla Vista had an estimated 550 residents, with
less than 6 percent being students. However, once UCSB relocated to its new campus, enrollment rapidly increased from 2,200 students in 1955 to six times that number fifteen years later. This growth created a massive demand for nearby housing. Rather than continuing to develope on campus, UCSB became involved with private developers that shaped Isla Vista. In the 1960s,
developers lobbied successfully for denser zoning, allowing more multi unit housing to be built.
In addition, local realtors pushed the university to stop developing on campus housing to avoid competition. The county even passed a policy that stopped campus housing construction until Isla Vista filled up. This decision ultimately made students look into privately owned off campus units. Over time, the university continued enrollment growth and the problem of overcrowding
became real. Like we see today, students living in converted garages, makeshift dorms, and even student homelessness. UCSB’s expansion generated demand and its limited housing supply redirected students into the private market. In addition, its political and institutional influence helped shape zoning and development decisions that prioritized density and profit.
Even in the 1980s, UCSB students were being placed in converted laundry rooms, while others experienced homelessness. The landlords will collect the highest amount of rent possible and stay secure in the demand that remains high due to UCSB’s enrollment. During the water moratorium in 1972, Isla Vista saw little to none reconstruction and aging buildings were “held together with duct tape and paint.” Instead of reinvesting, owners rely on the student turnover to maintain profitability.
Findings
Housing insecurity among UCSB students is often unseen, as many continue attending classes while sleeping on couches or in cars. High rent and limited housing in Isla Vista make stable housing hard to secure. This instability affects daily routines, learning, and mental health. It also reflects larger structural problems, including limited university housing, local market pressures, and gaps in support for students facing housing challenges.
Poster
