The struggle is real, and it’s hitting California’s college students harder than a tech bro’s ego at a startup pitch. A recent survey revealed a gut-wrenching truth: about a quarter of the state’s 2 million community college students have experienced homelessness.

Take Jakob Conry, a 23-year-old San Jose City College student, whose daily routine involves an hour-long bus journey from a group shelter to campus. His story isn’t unique - it’s a systemic failure that’s crushing the dreams of young people trying to build a better future.

The Broken Education Dream

California, land of tech innovation and venture capital, can’t seem to solve the basic problem of keeping its students housed and educated. The irony is thick: in a state where billionaires build rocket ships and autonomous vehicles, students are struggling to find a safe place to sleep.

Economic Inequality in Action

This isn’t just about a few unlucky students. It’s a glaring symptom of a broken economic system where education has become a luxury, not a right. Community colleges, often the most accessible pathway to higher education, are becoming battlegrounds of survival rather than centers of learning.

A Call for Change

We need radical solutions: affordable housing, comprehensive financial support, and a reimagining of how we support students. Education should lift people up, not push them further into precarity. Until then, students like Jakob will continue to fight an uphill battle just to stay in school.