UC Irvine's Genius Plan To Fix The Student Housing Crisis

09 August 2023

UC Irvine, CA - In what it calls a head-on approach to the student housing crisis, the University of California, Irvine has announced a new fix: temporary tents in Aldrich Park. With more students than ever looking for affordable housing and not nearly enough rooms on campus, UCI says it wants to help students who are struggling, with one small twist.

Aldrich Park, known for being the quiet green heart of campus, is about to look a little different. The university plans to put up a limited number of sturdy, well-furnished tents. The move, officials say, shows both a willingness to try unusual ideas and a desire to take some pressure off the housing squeeze right away.

“Our students come first. The housing crisis has made it clear that we need answers we can act on now. Using Aldrich Park for temporary housing came up as a short-term step while we work on the long-term ones,” said Dr. Emily Davis, UCI’s Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs.

Each tent comes with electricity and Wi-Fi, so students can live comfortably. The tents do not come with private showers or bathrooms. To help with costs, the university is working with local restaurants and businesses to offer cheap meals and other basics. Campus security and maintenance teams will be on site to keep tent residents safe.

Odd as the plan sounds, UCI officials believe it will ease the housing shortage and bring students closer together. “Aldrich Park has always been the center of campus life. Turning it into temporary housing gives students a roof and a rare chance to meet each other, work together, and make friends that last,” Dr. Davis said.

The university is also talking with local organizations about extra support, including counseling and academic help, so tent residents can focus on their classes.

Student reaction is mixed. Some like the creative thinking. Others worry about privacy and safety. The administration says it will put full measures in place to handle those worries and keep the tents safe and livable for everyone.

As for the price, UCI says each tent will cost $900 a month, paid by the quarter. That covers the basics and the experience of living in Aldrich Park, though again, no private shower or bathroom. The university says the price is meant to sit somewhere between affordable and convenient.

Using Aldrich Park for housing shows how far UCI is willing to go to solve a real problem. As the university takes this unusual step, other schools around the country are watching to see whether it catches on at campuses facing the same shortage.

Satire, in case the $900 tents did not give it away. For the unsatirical version of what UCI costs, see what a year here actually runs an international student, or how to land an on-campus job if you are trying to cover rent.