State Universities To Offer Housing Incentives

Davis, CA — The high cost of housing in California is prompting officials at some California universities to offer housing incentives to job candidates.

With the state ranking at the top for housing costs and near the bottom for the percentage of residents who can afford to buy a home, officials at California´s public universities have found it difficult to draw people to faculty and administrative positions.

A few California State University and University of California campuses are building their own community where employees can buy homes at below-market rates.

The Sacramento campus plans to build as many as 500 homes for faculty and staff on 25 acres it bought last year. In the 23-campus C-S-U system, three universities have similar housing developments — Fullerton, Monterey Bay and Channel Islands in Ventura.

A C-S-U spokeswoman says other campuses are considering similar programs.