College Focused Rapid Rehousing Evaluation
Overview
The Center for Equitable Higher Education (CEHE) led the evaluation of the College Focused Rapid Rehousing (CFRR) program, which provides extensive findings exploring the CFRR program, academic, and financial and personal well-being outcomes, student participants of the program, and program development and structure.
In 2019, the State of California provided ongoing funds to the California State Universities (CSU), California Community Colleges (CCC), and University of California (UC) campuses to undertake the country’s largest campus-community approach to address the crisis of student homelessness on California public higher education campuses. As of 2025, the State spends $31 million annually on campus “rapid rehousing programs.” This funding includes both short-term housing assistance for housing-insecure students and a new strategy to address the needs of students experiencing homelessness—College Focused Rapid Rehousing (CFRR).
CFRR is a new approach and evidence of its impact was needed to inform future investment and refinement of the model. CFRR programs were launched in the CSU and CCC in the summer of 2020. With support from private philanthropy, CSU and CCC staff, and in collaboration with a team of CSU researchers, CEHE conducted a three-year, mixed-methods evaluation to examine the processes and outcomes of 8 CSU and 2 CCC campus CFRR programs.
We are pleased to share the findings of this comprehensive evaluation with implications for students, practitioners, campus leaders, policymakers, and funders.
Webinars
The research team shared findings from the interim report in March 2023. The team will share findings from the final report in June 2025.
- CFRR Evaluation Interim Report Webinar (March 2023)
- CFRR Evaluation Final Report Webinar (June 17, 2025)
Both webinars made possible by support from The Michelson 20MM Foundation.
Reports
The key reports associated with this evaluation include:
- CFRR Evaluation Final Report - Executive Summary (May 2025)
- CFRR Evaluation Final Report (May 2025)
- CFRR Evaluation Interim Report (November 2022)
Authors
Jessica Wolin, MPH, MCRP, Co-PI
Faculty Lead Research and Impact - Center for Equitable Higher Education, California State University, Long Beach
Full-Time Lecturer - Department of Public Health San Francisco State University
Rashida Crutchfield, EdD, MSW, Co-PI
Professor - School of Social Work
Executive Director - Center for Equitable Higher Education California State University, Long Beach
Arturo Baiocchi, PhD
Associate Professor - School of Social Work and Center for Health Policy, Practice, and Research, Sacramento State University
Jennifer Wilking, PhD
Professor and Chair Department of Political Science and Criminal Justice California State University, Chico
Molly Calhoun, PhD
Assistant Professor - School of Social Work
California State University, Chico
Stephanie Machado, DrPH MPH
Assistant Professor - Department of Public Health & Health Services Administration California State University, Chico
Susan Roll, PhD
Professor - School of Social Work California State University, Chico
Susanna Curry, PhD, MSW
Associate Professor - Sacramento State University Fellow - Center for Health Policy, Practice and Research
Yadira Maldonado, MSW
Associate Director - Center for Equitable Higher Education, School of Social Work, California State University, Long Beach
Virginia Gray, PhD, RDN
Professor and Chair - Family & Consumer Sciences, California State University, Long Beach
Funders
This Project was Graciously Funded by the following:
Related Resources
Baiocchi, A., Curry, S., Crutchfield, R., Wolin, J., Wilking, J., & Roll, S. (2024). College focused rapid rehousing: Deploying an existing community model to address homelessness on campus.
John Burton Advocates for Youth (n.d.). College-Focused Rapid Rehousing: An evidence-based intervention to support housing & educational retention.
John Burton Advocates for Youth (2022, April). Connecting the dots: How colleges can collaborate with homelessness response systems to address student needs.
Machado S, Calhoun M, Curry S, Baiocchi A. Perceptions of mental health and academics among students in a College-Focused Rapid Rehousing program: a qualitative study.
Petek, G. (2024, May). Legislative Analyst’s Office. Update on student housing assistance.
- Wolin, Wilking and Calhoun (2024). How These Schools Worked With Community Groups to Fight College Homelessness.
