Southwestern College could soon be building student housing to help provide an affordable alternative as rental rates continue to rise in our region.

The local community college, which has its main campus in Chula Vista, in addition to campuses in National City, San Ysidro, and Otay mesa, was awarded nearly $1 million in state planning grants to study the feasibility of building student housing.

Another local community college, San Diego City College in downtown, received a state grant of $344,000 to study and plan for a 16-story high-rise residential building on 16th and B Streets where its former Child Development Center is located.

SDCC’s plans include a 210-unit residential high-rise which could house more than 600 students.

Senate Bill 169, passed last year, created the Higher Education Student Housing Grant Program which allocated $500 million in 2021-2022 to is fund studies and planning for student housing projects at the state’s community colleges, state universities, and UC campuses.

The program divides the funding allocation among the different school tiers with 50 percent dedicate to CCs, 30 percent to CSUs, and 20 percent to UCs. The bill included legislative intent to provide an additional $750 million in 2022-23 and $750 million in 2023-24.

42 student housing projects totaling nearly $2.8 billion applied for the state grants, far exceeding the money available through the program.

SDCC was one of 75 California community colleges out of the state’s 116 CCs to receive funding this year.

The state also has 23 CSUs and 10 UCs.