Institution Cerritos College State California Academic Level Associate Issue Area Support Services Website http://cerritos.edu/falcons-nest Key Personnel Pamela Sepulveda Overview The Village at Cerritos College is a housing project exclusively for homeless students, offering secure housing and comprehensive support services to ensure educational success. Partnering with the Falcon’s Nest, Cerritos' basic needs program, The Village provides emergency aid, food, clothing, hygiene, legal support, and other essential services. The project’s goals include providing all participants with an educational plan to support degree and certificate completion, reducing time-to-completion for Black/African American and Latinx students, and expanding Cerritos College’s housing programs through continuous evaluation to reach underserved student populations. Program Description In 2019, Cerritos College participated in a survey by the Hope Center and found that 65% of students experienced basic needs insecurities, 55% experienced housing insecurity, and 15% experienced homelessness. In response, The Village launched in 2020 as California’s first community college housing development exclusively for students facing homelessness. Located near campus, the development features seven townhomes with free and affordable rental units for students aged 18-25. Within three years, the program expanded to include additional housing resources (Rapid Rehousing, Safe Landing, and Prevention) and the Falcon’s Nest, a centralized location on campus providing food, housing, clothing, and financial assistance. As an HSI with a 69% Latinx population, collaboration with local organizations and resources is key to addressing the significant disparities in basic needs and insecurities experienced by Black/African American and Latinx students. Outcome Cerritos College found that participants in The Village maintain higher GPAs, complete their programs faster, and are more likely to transfer than non-participants of their housing programs. The Village's model allows students to enter and exit throughout the year, providing continuous support tailored to individual needs. Since its inception, 51% of the participating students have been Latinx. Average Time-to-Completion: In 2022-2023, the average time-to-completion for Latinx program participants was 3.4 years. In comparison, non-participants took an average of 6.2 years to graduate. Educational Plans to Increase Completion Rates: The program’s data show that students who receive an educational plan are 1.5 times more likely to complete their degree within two years. In 2023-2024, 100% of Latinx participants received an educational plan, compared to 82% of non-participants. Learn more about Latino College Completion in California Return to Growing What Works Database
